#and people are like yeah we agree that’s why it’s rated M so that people under 18 can’t purchase it

[area51-escapee]

I hope that in the future we no longer have to deal with people who don’t play video games trying to decide which games are too graphic or harmful and should be banned but then I look at people my age or younger and I’m like yeah we ain’t never getting out of this

[shuadotcom]

143 Miles (M)

💞Pairing: Seungcheol x Fem!Reader

💞Summary: You and your boyfriend decide to change up your Valentine’s Day plans this year, so you plan a two-week getaway - or a “love vacation” as Seungcheol calls it. With each destination, you fall more and more in love with each other and it may just be your best Valentine’s Day yet.

💞Genres & AUs: Fluff, smut, established relationship au, road trip au

💞Rating: 18+ (MINORS & AGELESS BLOGS DNI. YOU WILL BE BLOCKED)

💞Warnings: Profanity, unprotected sex, fingering, dirty talk, pet names (baby, sweetheart, baby girl), big dick!Cheol

💞Words: 5k

💞Note: Here’s my fic for the Cupid For You Fic Exchange hosted by @svthub! Happy Valentine’s Day to my lovely valentine @gyuwoncheol !! 💘 I hope you enjoy my beloved Paula!!!!! 😘 ❤️

Thank you to my girlies @horanghater and @onlymingyus - Bambi for always coming in clutch as my beta and Mars for the beautiful banner!! 💕

“Okay, on the count of three,” Seungcheol declares once you’re both back in the car. “One…two…three!”

You reach into the bag in your lap and dramatically present the trinket to your boyfriend. He bursts into a fit of laughter upon seeing the small smiling frog donned in a cowboy hat resting in the palm of your hand. You quickly notice that he’s holding the same figurine. You join in with him, the two of you cackling in the front seat of the car together. You’re sure anyone walking would think the two of you look deranged, but neither pays that any mind.

“Well, guess this means we’re tied this round,” you manage when you finally collect yourselves.

“Yeah, but I’m still winning,” Seungcheol boasts, taking the frog from you and putting both away in the backseat.

“By one point!”

“A win is a win,” your boyfriend shrugs, grinning widely at you. You concede and start the car, somehow forgetting how competitive your boyfriend can be, even over something as silly as a game of who can buy the other the most ridiculous gas station souvenir. You’re on day three of your cross-country road trip and Seungcheol’s souvenir picks have been just a little sillier than yours. He’s simply lucky is all.

It was his idea to do something different this Valentine’s Day. You and Seungcheol have been together for almost five years and every year in February you’ve done the same thing when it comes to Valentine’s Day. You usually go out on a date somewhere, always a fancy romantic lunch or dinner, and then an activity such as a movie or a trip to the amusement park. Neither of you are ungrateful about the time you spend together, of course. You love one another and anything you do will be enjoyable if you’re together. Your dates are always full of nothing but shared love and admiration for each other. You love Valentine’s Day and celebrate it by spreading more love than usual to your boyfriend and he loves doing the same, but you both wanted to change it up this year, so when Seungcheol brought up going on a road trip, you wasted no time in agreeing.

Initially, you thought about driving from Seoul down to Mokpo, but that is only a 4-hour drive at most and didn’t feel like enough of a trip. That’s why Seungcheol brought up something that was once on his bucket list: fly to the US and then drive to the other side of it and back. He mentioned that it was something he’d always seen in American teen movies growing up and he always thought it looked fun and like a way to get even closer to the people you care about. And since you’re the person he’s closest to and cares about the most, he wouldn’t want to do this with anyone but you.

It didn’t take you much convincing either. You can never say no to a good road trip, so you both took time off work at the beginning of February, packed your suitcases, and booked a flight to New York. From there, you rented a car - a BMW to be exact, at your boyfriend’s insistence. (“It’s our love vacation! We have to drive in luxury!”) Then start your journey to Washington, planning to stop at as many states in between as you can.

You’ve finally made it into New Mexico with the end goal of getting to Las Vegas to stay for a night. Neither of you had many goals for where you would stay or what you’d do when you got to every state and are just winging it. It’s more fun that way.

Well, except when it comes to your souvenirs. You decide to stop at a gas station in each state for the wildest souvenir you can find after you unearth an Empire State Building-shaped mood ring right before you leave New York. It’s an extremely impractical shape and you demand that he put it on as soon as you leave.

Once you get back onto the highway Seungcheol fiddles with his phone, making sure his Bluetooth is connected.

The familiar first notes of  “Sugar We’re Going Down” by Fall Out Boy start and your mouth quirks up into a smile. Every time it’s your turn to drive on the trip, Seungcheol insists on playing the playlist of your favorite songs that he made for you. The gesture still makes you feel warm at how thoughtful he always is, even when it comes to the little things.

Drumming your fingertips on the steering wheel, you relax in your seat. Seungcheol turns the volume up and rolls down his window just a bit. The February air is a little crisp, but not too cold. As soon as Patrick starts belting over the speakers, you join in, singing the song word-for-word as you go. Other than talking and playing silly road games, a favorite of both of yours has been using the car as your karaoke room. 

Both of you have more than enough playlists to never run out of a soundtrack to your drive and you’re not shy about singing around one another. For the first few hours at the start of the drive, you had nearly gotten a sore throat from how serious you were at road trip karaoke. You were only missing a tambourine and the typical multi-colored karaoke laser lights.

The drive to Nevada will take nine hours, so you do half of that drive, and that whole time you and your boyfriend sing your hearts out on the way. Every once in a while, he reaches over to feed you a chocolate at your request for a snack. He makes sure that his finger grazes your lip or your teeth each time, chuckling when you nip at his digits or place tiny kisses on them. Little moments like this with Seungcheol make your heart even more full, which you didn’t think was possible, yet here you are - falling more and more in love with him each simple moment like this.

When Paramore comes on shuffle, Seungcheol goes all out during “Ain’t It Fun,” doing all of the ad-libs and being the guitar and the drums. At this point, you’ve made it more into town and hit a stoplight after passing nothing but dirt and rocks.

It gives you a chance to look at him, admiring the way his dark hair falls in his eyes - the eyes that turn into half moons when he smiles wide and laughs loudly. You can’t help but swoon over the giggle he lets out when he notices you watching him put on a solo concert, his dimple making its appearance and you want nothing more than to lean over and kiss it. And then kiss him on his lips that you know are so soft and warm and made perfectly to fit against yours like a puzzle piece.

So you do. You lean over the console quickly when he turns to you again and gives you a closed-mouth smile. Seungcheol lets out a noise of surprise, but gladly accepts the kiss, his hand reaching to cup your chin as your lips move slowly against his.

A honk from the car behind you makes you spring apart and then you remember where you are and see the green of the stoplight in front of you, indicating that you’ve got to focus on the road again. Seungcheol reaches over to take your hand as you start driving again, placing a kiss on the top of it, keeping it in his hold as you continue, both of you getting back to your playlist and the road ahead. You can’t help the way your heart swells and you almost don’t want this moment to end. You would travel around the world and back if it meant you could do it with Seungcheol.

When the sun sets on your journey, Seungcheol has always insisted that even if it’s not his turn, he’ll do the driving. He’s halfway through the state of Arizona when it gets darker and he’s behind the wheel. You didn’t stay in New Mexico long, only stopping to refuel and make sure to see what that gas station has to offer in the form of trinkets. Not much, as it turns out, but you manage to win this round of your game when you snag a keychain with an alien riding a donkey while all Seungcheol finds is a pen in the shape of a chili pepper with a mustache. He couldn’t not give you that point even if he tried to argue with you just a little about it.

Seungcheol hums along to his music, keeping it low enough not to disturb you while you try to sleep. He passes a mountain range, briefly admiring how the moonlight shines on the red rocks surrounding you. His attention quickly gets diverted to you when you turn in your seat to face him. You have the smallest pout on your lips and your eyebrows are scrunched up the tiniest bit. Cheol knows how hard it is for you to fall asleep in the car, but he still makes you try so you can get rest.

His eyes focus on the road, but he can’t help but steal glances at you and your cute expression. Not only does the moonlight bounce off of the nature around, but it also does the same to your face. It highlights your cheeks that he loves to pinch, your nose that he loves to boop, and your perfect lips that he loves to kiss. Your facial muscles relax when you seem to slip into a state of rest finally and the sight of your expression that he can only describe as angelic has his stomach doing flips. 

It’s been almost five years and every single day that he gets to look at you, he counts just how lucky he is to call you his. From the moment he met you, you occupied space in Seungcheol’s mind, and to this day, over everything else in his life that swirls around in his brain, he always comes back to you. Your face, your voice, your body, your everything. You are everything to him and he’ll tell you every single day for the rest of your lives.

“I love you, so much,” He whispers as one of your favorite songs plays through the car and you stir, just a little. 

Look at the stars, look how they shine for you. And everything you do.

A smile tugs at the corner of his as he glances your way again. The stars, the moon, the sun, all of it truly does shine for you and only you - his whole world.

When your phone’s calendar reads February 14th, you and Seungcheol finally make it to Las Vegas and you decide to treat yourselves to a fancier hotel. Instead of the usual 3-star hotels (and a few seedy motels) you stayed at along the trip, Seungcheol finds the nicest hotel that the two of you can afford. You even get so lucky as to somehow snag the honeymoon suite. “It is our love vacation after all,” being his reason yet again. 

You definitely don’t complain when you walk into the room and kick your shoes off, immediately taken aback at just how fancy and spotless everything in the room looks. The bed is the biggest you think you’ve ever seen and is covered in rose petals. The large window across the room overlooks the city of Las Vegas, the neon lights brightening up the room before you even turn the lights on. The furniture looks modern and clean and the room even smells fresh yet sweet. You can’t place the scent of the air freshener, but you love it nonetheless.

“Holy shit, this is the nicest hotel room I’ve ever been in!” You marvel, running and plopping onto the large bed. The bed is big enough for you to starfish comfortably on and you start making comforter angels, Seungcheol laughing as he flops next to you. 

“Only the best for my girl,” he hums, squeezing your socked feet, forcing a sigh out of you.

“Damn, I’m so sore.”

“Well if you’re interested, there’s a more comfortable place for your sore spots.”

You lift your head to look at Cheol and follow where his finger is pointing. There’s a half wall across the room made of decorative swirls of metal that you can see straight through. On the other side sits a large jacuzzi bathtub.

“Is that our tub?!” You spring up from the bed and rush over, eyes widening at the size. 

Seungcheol comes up behind you while you’re admiring, wrapping his arms around your waist to pull you close. “That definitely looks like our very own giant, two-people-sized tub.”

“Looks like it has jets too.” Your hands rest atop his, fingers threading together.

“I think I even see some bubble bath on the counter over there.” Lips meet the back of your neck, your eyes fluttering closed at the sensation.

“Hmm, how about I get the bath going and you grab the bottle of champagne chilling in that bucket by the bed? Then we can order room service. I’d love some good sushi.” 

“Sounds like a plan.” Seungcheol punctuates his sentence with a final light kiss on your neck. You have to quite literally peel yourself from him, but you manage it as the two of you split up.

It only takes a few minutes for him to grab the bottle along with the two glasses and for you to get the bath running. As soon as the water is warm and bubbly, you and Seungcheol shed your clothes on the floor as you each slip into the tub with you sitting between his legs. He manages to find the button that powers the tub, the jets hitting you at all sides, including your outstretched feet.

You relax into the water, tilting your head back, and resting on Seungcheol’s shoulder.

“I have some bad news for you, Cheol.”

“What is it?” 

“I think I must pass away here, just like this.”

Your boyfriend breathes out a laugh behind you, wrapping you in his arms again.

“You’re telling me you’d just up and leave me like that? And to stay with a bathtub no less!” You can hear the pout in Cheol’s voice and it makes you giggle.

“It’s nothing personal, baby, but I mean you can’t produce jet streams of soothing water.” 

“Hmmm. That may be true, but I can do this.”

Seungcheol’s fingers dance up the front of your body, gently cupping your breasts and squeezing. His fingers tweak your nipples in between gropes, making you let out a surprised moan. 

You practically melt into Seungcheol’s chest as he plays with your sensitive buds and your eyes flutter closed.

Soft moans fall from your lips as your head lolls to the side, Seungcheol using the opportunity to latch his lips to the side of your neck. His teeth scrape over your skin, nipping and biting along the way. 

Seungcheol has always loved to mark you. He loves leaving not only signs to others that you’re his, but every hickey and every bruise is a little reminder that he’s the one who makes you feel good and he’s the one that you always come home to at the end of the day. Not that you need a reminder because you’ll always come back to Seungcheol no matter what.

You count at least two reminders now, one on the side of your neck and another at the juncture of your neck and shoulder. His fingers never leave your nipples, the stimulation already making you nothing but putty in his hands. If you weren’t in the tub you’re sure you’d be making a mess of whatever panties you would be wearing.

Your boyfriend trails kisses from your shoulder, up your neck, to your ear, and lands on your cheek, peppering your face with a few more kisses. His plush, slightly chapped lips kiss any spot he can reach as his hands trail down from your waist to your thighs. Seungcheol opens your legs wide and shifts you both around in the tub. The moment the jet across from your body hits your clit, you let out a shriek and Seungcheol knows he’s positioned you the way he wants to.

The tub jet feels like heaven coupled with Seungcheol’s relentless hands that are back on your tits, cupping and squeezing in the perfect way you need it.

“Ngh, Cheol!”

“Hmm? What is it, baby?”

“F-fuck. I need you.”

“You need me? But didn’t you say a little while ago that you wanted to stay with the tub since it has jets? Aren’t you enjoying the jets right now?” His tone is smug yet teasing, warm breath hitting your ear and making you shiver.

“Cheol, please!” you pout at him, doing your best to beg in between whines.

“Oh, so you do need me, huh?”

“Yes!”

“And what is it that you need, sweetheart?”

Seungcheol tugs at one of your nipples harshly, making you jolt. You feel so close to cumming already, but you do your best to hold off. You want to cum around Seungcheol’s cock or even his fingers - something, anything of his.

You voice this to your boyfriend, choking and stumbling over your words along the way. Seungcheol’s gaze is heavy as he peers down at you, enjoying how you squirm and wiggle in his hold. Your head is resting on his shoulder as you look up at him, batting your eyelashes and pouting extra hard. He loves it when he can see how needy you are for him and how much you want him. He especially loves all of the noises you make for him - the pants and the moans and the whispers of his name. 

He needs to hear more from your pretty lips, and he knows exactly how to do that.

With a smirk, one of Seungcheol’s hands releases your tit and trails between your legs. The tip of a finger taps against your clit, an embarrassing moan tumbling out of you in response. 

The thick digit slides into your eager pussy and it takes everything in you not to sob at the feeling. Seungcheol crooks his finger as he pistons his hand and the heel of his palm knocks against your clit each time. You practically dissolve into his hold while his other hand plays with your nipple, your brain already turning to mush at all of these sensations combined.

“Fuck, sweetheart, listen to you. You sound so fucking pretty.”

“C-Cheol…”

“God I love it when you say my name. I wanna hear it again,” Seungcheol slips another finger into you, and you yelp out his name again without even thinking about it. His pace quickens, fucking you with his fingers as quickly as the bubbly water around you will allow. 

“Yes! Please don’t stop, Cheol, please!”

“Mm, I won’t, baby. Want you to cum for me. Come on, pretty girl, let go for me.” Seungcheol’s voice is so deep that you practically feel it in the pit of your stomach. The pads of his fingers digging into your sweet spot, the jet from the tub still pelting your clit each time his hand moves, and his hard cock digging into your lower back are enough to have your world tilting and your orgasm knocking into you as soon as he tells you to let go. 

Your body stiffens as you cum, the shrill sound of his name that you let out sounds too loud in your ears, but Seungcheol eats it up. He curses under his breath, telling you another handful of times how pretty you sound and how beautiful you look falling apart for him. 

Seungcheol caresses your cheek and chin as you come down and when your breathing seems to steady, he tilts your face back and kisses you. His lips meld with yours, kissing you as if he’ll never get the chance again, making you even dizzier.

His tongue prods at the seam of your lips and when you let him in, he swallows up all of the desperate little sounds you puff out. He pulls back from your lips suddenly so he can help you turn around in his lap. The water in the tub sloshes as you get comfortable facing him and straddling his waist. 

Neither of you wants to waste any more time, the carnal desire to have Seungcheol inside of you is a mutual feeling.

The head of Seungcheol’s swollen cock prods at your sensitive folds, whimpers falling from your lips as you start to sink onto his length. His hands hold your hips as you lower until he’s completely sheathed between your wet walls. You and Seungcheol have had sex more times throughout your relationship than you think you can feasibly count, and each and every time the stretch is familiar but always succeeds in taking your breath away. 

“Shit, Cheol…”

“Feel good, baby? My fat cock stretching you out?” Seungcheol grunts between clenched teeth. 

“Yes, s-so good, Cheollie.” 

“You’re still so fucking tight, baby.” He winces when he feels your walls twitch, squeezing his dick and momentarily making him speechless. “Fuck, you feel so good.”

With Seungcheol’s grip tight on your hips, he helps you lift a little, letting his cock slip nearly all the way out before you slam back down and he’s shoved inside of you to the hilt. You share a groan as he helps you ride him, finding a steady rhythm. The water around you continues to splash, but he only moves you in his lap faster. 

Your head falls back as you alternate between bouncing on his cock and swiveling your hips, letting out curses and calls of his name. Seungcheol bucks his hips up to meet your movements, fucking up into you as much as he can in the slippery tub.

“Shit, you look so beautiful like this. You were made to take my cock, you know that, baby? This pussy was made for me.”

“Yes, yes, yes, fuck!” His compliments only spur you on, your fingernails digging into the thick skin of his shoulders as you grind on him. Your thighs are starting to burn, but you ignore it. The feeling of your boyfriend’s girth driving up into you over and over makes you feel floaty, everything around you fading away. The only thing you feel and the only thing you know is Seungcheol and his hands on your moist skin, his lips sucking bruises onto your tits, and his dick kissing your g-spot with each harsh thrust.

Seungcheol knows your body better than anyone, so he knows when you’re going to cum. He notices the frantic cries, the way your body shakes, and that far-away look in your eyes.

“Gonna cum for me, beautiful?”

“Y-yes, fuck yes.”

“That’s right, baby. Be a good girl and cum for me. Can you do that?”

“Mmhmm! I’m so close, Cheollie!”

“I know, baby girl, I know,” Seungcheol moans against your chest, burying his head in between your tits as he drives his hips up so hard, you almost lose your balance. His arms wrap around your waist, pulling you flush against him. “I’m close too, fuck - gonna fill you up. Can you handle that, baby girl?”

“A-always! I can a-always handle y-you, baby,” you gasp out, your stomach tightening and your body buzzing the closer you get.

Seungcheol keeps one arm around you while the other snakes in between your bodies, his fingers finding your clit without even having to try. The stimulation shocks you and has you mumbling gibberish, a mix of your boyfriend’s name and pleading words. Your fingers slide up and into his dark locks, threading your fingers through the brunette strands and tugging, making him growl into your skin.

“Please, fuck, Cheol I’m gonna cum!” 

“I love you so much baby,” Seungcheol nearly explodes right on the spot with how your gummy walls clench around him again, but he manages to hold off. “Cum for me, sweetheart…” He nips at the side of your breast and applies more dizzying pressure to your clit.

“I l-love you too! I’m cum - fuck!” Your words are cut off with a scream as you tumble right over the edge, cumming harder than you did the first time, tears pricking the edge of your eyes.

Seungcheol lets go right after you, his face still in your chest as he holds you close, moaning out words of pleasure, love, and admiration about you and how you feel like “literal fucking heaven” and how you’re his and his only. Seungcheol pumps you full of him, his warm seed dripping from your throbbing pussy and mixing with the remaining bubbles around you. Somewhere in between his pussy-drunk babbles your ears pick up something about making you his wife.

You both stay where you are for a few minutes, your fingers lazily raking through his hair as he keeps you close to him, placing small, closed-mouth kisses on your hot skin.

“I love you so much,” he mumbles, letting out a sigh as his hand, still between your bodies, moves to rest on your thigh.

“I love you too, Cheol,” you sigh back, a drunken-post orgasm smile on your lips. Even through your haze, you didn’t forget what he said. “Did you…did you mean what you said?” you whisper out, hoping he knows what you’re referring to.

“Which part?” His question sounds calm, but you notice the way his fingers on your thigh press into your skin a little harder.

“The part about making me your wife?” A fraction of a second of silence hangs between you both and part of you starts to panic. What if he only meant it at the moment? You’ve had fleeting conversations about one day being married, but it was always lighthearted and more in a “one day we will” way.

When Seungcheol finally answers you, it’s in the form of a sigh. Wordlessly, he lifts you from his softening cock and untangles your limbs, sitting you down in the tub. 

“I didn’t want to do this now or like this, but I can’t hold it anymore. Especially not when you ask me and look at me like that.” He steps out of the tub, giving you another look before sticking his feet in his complimentary hotel slippers and shuffling into the main part of the room. 

You watch him rummage around in his suitcase before he comes back to the tub and kneels on the bath mat, facing you. You immediately spot the red velvet box in his hands and you gasp, tears immediately gathering in your eyes.

“I wanted to do this when we got to Washington and say some cheesy words about seeing the world with you and traveling everywhere with you for the rest of our lives, but I can’t wait any longer. Y/n Y/l/n, will you do me the honor of being my forever Valentine and be my wife?” The emerald stone of the ring shines back at you, surrounded by small diamonds on a gold band.

“Yes! Of course I will, Cheol!” you sob, tears blurring your vision as he plucks the ring from the box and slips it onto your finger, placing a kiss on your knuckle after it’s securely on. 

Seungcheol cups your face with both hands as he leans forward and kisses you. The kiss is soft and warm and you can just feel the love that Choi Seungcheol holds for you in his heart seep out. His love overtakes you, your heart feeling more full than you think it’s ever been.

“I love you so much, Y/n.” he sighs when he pulls away and rests his forehead against yours.

“I love you too, Seungcheol. So fucking much.”

Your boyfriend fiance smiles widely at you, his own eyes red-rimmed with potential tears as he scans your face. “I can’t wait to officially make you my wife. And you know, if you want, we are in Vegas so we could technically make it official tonight.”

With a sniffle, you shake your head. “Patience, my love. We can worry about all that wedding stuff when we get home. Let’s just focus on us and this, and right now.” 

He pouts dramatically before kissing your forehead. “Fine, I’ll wait.”

“Good boy,” you giggle, watching the way his eyes darken at your playful praise. “Now, how about we actually open that champagne and order room service? I’m still craving sushi badly.”

With a chuckle Seungcheol nods, standing as goes back into the room to look for the room service menu.

“Whatever you want, sweetheart. We have all night to eat anything you want to order.” 

“Good, because if they have good pizza I want that later too. Oh! Or maybe kimchi jeon if they happen to have that!” Seungcheol chuckles at your enthusiasm as he comes back with the menu. 

Before you order, he helps you out of the tub when you complain about the water going cold. Dinner is put on hold again when you decide that a warm shower in the luxurious shower stall in the bathroom should come first before you get comfortable for the evening.

In between the warm water cascading over you and Seungcheol helping wash your back, you end up bent over the bench in the shower, Seungcheol slipping into your still-aching cunt again. 

As your fiance makes you cry out around him yet again, somewhere between the moans and grunts, you’re both able to whisper “I love you” and “Happy Valentine's Day” when you share another blissful orgasm. 

Tomorrow you’ll be back on the road and back to making the rounds for silly souvenirs, but tonight it’s all about you and Seungcheol and this moment right here. You can’t wait to have many, many more Valentine’s Days with the love of your life.

Permanent Taglist: @aaniag

Net Tags: @kflixnet @kbookshelf

[the-boy-meets-evil]

fool for you | kmg (18+)

where you and mingyu have a pact to always spend valentine's day together when you're single pairing: kim mingyu x f.reader genre: friends to lovers; fluff, smut rating: explicit; minors DNI warning: mentions of drinking (they're not drunk), some swearing, mingyu is described as a puppy, kissing, light marking, mentions of some biting, fingering, oral sex (f and m receiving), vaginal sex, unprotected sex (be safe), one use of a pet name (baby), i think that's it but if you see something else, lemme know! word count: ~4.8k a/n: this is for a valentine's day collab by the lovely @playmetheclassics @here4btsfics and @missgeniality. thank you for planning this. and to one of my favorite people, @ugh-yoongi this is for you, happy love day! banner credit: @classicscreations, thank you bby

It’s always been like this with you and your best friend since you were teenagers. Ever since that awful (read: not that bad, you were just a dramatic teenager) break-up you went through in your second year of high school just before Valentine’s Day. All because your boyfriend didn’t want to have to buy you anything. Which was dumb, you think, because you were teenagers and you weren’t exactly expecting some grand gesture. Not when you’d been dating for less than a year. 

But you were upset in that angsty teenager kind of way and Mingyu swooped in to try and fix it, in true best friend fashion. He showed up at your house that night with all your favorite snacks and some movie that you couldn’t remember. What you did remember, though, was your promise to always be each other’s Valentine’s date if you were both single. It wasn’t as much for him as you and you knew that. You couldn’t help it, you just loved love and the idea of spending the day with someone special. Which he was to you. 

Now it’s been 10 years since you made the promise to each other. Those 10 years have seen you both through finishing high school, going to college, countless dates, and so much change. The only thing that hasn’t changed is always making time for each other, no matter what else was going on. Mingyu is your best friend and you know you’re his. You’re sure nothing can change that.

And since you’re both actually adults now (kind of), you can go out to dinner for Valentine’s Day at a nice place with good food. Some of your other friends think it’s weird, that you go out on what’s essentially a date on the “most romantic” day of the year. That’s when you always chime in to remind everyone that Valentine’s Day is about love, not just romantic relationships. You and Mingyu do love each other, always have. Why not celebrate that?

“Cheers to another year spent with my favorite person,” you say and raise the glass of champagne, a complimentary one for all reservations that night. 

“Yeah I guess you’re okay,” Mingyu agrees when he clinks his glass against yours. 

“Wow, I see how it is,” you retort and he smiles. 

“I’m always happy when we get to do this, you know that,” Mingyu says.

“Maybe,” you shrug, “doesn’t hurt to hear it again.”

“Ah yes, the attention monster reappears,” Mingyu says and you roll your eyes without any real annoyance behind it.

“Hey, I was really good when you were dating Nayeon,” you protest. “I just like getting to hang out with my best friend.”

“You’re right,” he concedes. 

You’re expecting him to say more because you haven’t really talked about the breakup even though it’s been about a month. “That’s it?”

“What?” he asks, reaching for a roll in the center of the table. 

“I just, I don’t know, we haven’t really talked about what happened with her,” you say. 

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Mingyu says. It’s more of a shrug than anything as he grabs a roll. “You knew we were having problems.”

This kind of sparks your interest, so you pull the butter away before he can reach it. At first, a look of betrayal flashes across his face. Playful, of course. And then he’s pouting. God, he’s such a puppy sometimes. Just a giant goofball who has no idea how big he is.

“I know you were having problems,” you finally say to correct him. “Last time I saw you and her together, she seemed happy.”

Mingyu just looks at you for a second. “She didn’t like my friends and it just got old. I was sick of having to justify hanging out with them.”

“Well your friends are idiots,” you say and hand over the butter. 

“And to think they always talk about how much they love you,” he says and you laugh. 

“I love them too, but they’re still idiots. Both can be true,” you say. 

“Yeah, well, Nayeon didn’t see it that way, so,” Mingyu trails off with a shrug. 

You reach a hand across the table and his hand meets yours instinctively. “I know I joke around with you, but I am sorry. I just want you to be happy.”

“I am,” he insists and you frown. “Come on, I’ve still got you and some amazing friends. I’m good.”

“Okay,” you agree and reluctantly pull your hand back.

“Besides, I think it’s you we need to talk about,” he says and your brow furrows. 

“What about me?” you ask, a little nervous to hear the answer because it is Mingyu, after all.

“Did you forget that it was Seokmin who introduced you to Jeonghan?” Mingyu asks and he’s got that little smirk that you really fucking hate sometimes. Shithead.

“I didn’t forget,” you say and pretend to find the drink menu interesting even though you’ve already ordered.

“Nope, sorry,” Mingyu says and plucks the menu from your hand. “I told you about Nayeon.”

“You two dated for like 9 months? It wasn’t the same?” you point out incredulously.

“And you ghosted him,” Mingyu barks out with a laugh. “The poor guy, he was heartbroken.”

“Oh, he was not,” you scoff. “There wasn’t any spark.”

“That damn spark,” Mingyu says with a shake of his head. 

And because sometimes life is actually fair, the appetizer shows up and distracts Mingyu from any further line of questioning. He’s been wanting to try this restaurant since it opened. You’re not really sure why he never went with Nayeon. It’s a win for you though. And Mingyu loves food. He’s an incredible cook, but who would ever mind someone else cooking for them? 

It’s also kind of cute. Mingyu is this giant ball of energy, exactly like the puppy you compared him to earlier. More like a golden retriever actually, because he can be smart and also very dumb. He’s always moving until he passes out. He’s fiercely loyal. But when he’s happy and eating something like this, he just kind of slows down, gets focused. There’s something endearing about it.

Dessert is always the same for the two of you too. You pretend that you only want a bite or two of whatever Mingyu orders and end up eating most of it while he pouts until you order something else. Part of you thinks that you should just order two to start, the other part kind of likes your little tradition. There are a lot of things that you like doing with Mingyu. This is your favorite though, this stupid little Valentine’s Day tradition. Maybe it’s the comfort or the safety. Maybe it’s knowing that even if you’re dating someone shitty, Mingyu will always be there.

“Can I ask you something?” he asks, grabbing a bite of cake with his fork.

“Not sure when we started asking if we could ask questions, but go on,” you say. 

“What’s the real reason you didn’t give Jeonghan a chance?” Mingyu asks and that makes you look up suddenly.

“I already told you,” you answer.

“Not sure when we started avoiding answering things, but go on,” he says, throwing your line back at you.

“I mean, it’s true, I didn’t feel a spark and I don’t know,” you say as you search for the words. “I guess I just don’t wanna be wasting my time dating someone when it’s not going to go anywhere.”

“You never know though,” he says and you can’t really pinpoint the emotion.

“I don’t know,” you say and think for a second. “Have you ever just gone on a date and been sitting across from someone that’s nice and smart and funny and attractive, literally everything you should want but…it’s just, not there?”

Mingyu chuckles even though it’s not really funny. “Yeah, I guess I have.”

“And, okay, like part of me was also thinking that this holiday was coming up. So I either had to just shut it down or agree to do something with him,” you say and look down, embarrassed about what you’re going to admit. “I just kind of thought I’d rather spend tonight with you, someone I know I like being around, rather than in some sort of new, probably undefined, relationship with him. Like what if he picked a shitty restaurant or made shitty plans? What if we run out of things to talk about?”

“Wait, you turned him down so you could spend Valentine’s Day with me?” Mingyu asks, eyes wide.

“Come on, not like that,” you say and ignore the fluttering in your stomach. “Just, I don’t know, we always have fun.”

“You like doing this with me,” Mingyu says and you roll your eyes.

“Course I do, Gyu,” you answer easily.

“What if it was like that, though?” he asks and you cock your head to the side. “Like what if we were on a date and it wasn’t just another Valentine’s Day with friends?”

“Mingyu, we’re not…” you start and falter at the look on his face. “Are you serious?” 

“You do realize that I’ve actually never been in a relationship on Valentine’s Day, right?” he asks and that stupid smirk is back. 

“You must’ve been, we haven’t done this every year,” you say and you’re trying to wrack your brain to see if it’s true. 

“No, you’re right, we haven’t. We’ve missed 3 since we made the deal when we were fifteen, all when you were in a relationship,” Mingyu says and you’re at a loss for words. 

“Does that mean…?” you try to ask but your mouth just can’t see to catch up with your brain and your heart. 

“Do you wanna get out of here and go back to my apartment? It might be easier to talk there,” he says and you just nod. 

It’s a lot of information to process and for once, Mingyu is quiet by your side. His hand is firm around yours, which doesn’t feel like a big deal because you’ve held hands for years. Except that it’s entirely different now. And when he needs it back so he can actually drive with both his hands, a part of you misses the comfort of it. Misses the security. 

You’re quiet in the elevator and on the walk to his front door, quiet as you walk through the doorway. Even the apartment is quiet, which is surprising given how loud one of Mingyu’s roommates tends to be. But the place is empty, apparently, as Mingyu tells you when he breaks the silence to ask if he can take your coat to hang it up. It’s a strange feeling for a lot of reasons. Right now it’s strange to have Mingyu taking care of you when it’s usually the other way around.

It’s quiet again as you walk the familiar path to the living room to sit down while Mingyu makes you a cup of tea. When he hands it to you, you know that it’ll be perfect because Mingyu’s been your best friend for over a decade and he knows everything about you. And that’s when you realize. Maybe he knew this too. Maybe he’s a step ahead of you in realizing there are real feelings here. Maybe he’s the one you can depend on. 

“How long?” you ask, figuring you need to speak eventually.

“Have I liked you?” he asks, needing clarification. You only nod. When he doesn’t answer immediately, you look over at him. Study his face in profile before he answers. “It’s kind of a long answer, I guess. I had a crush on you that first Valentine’s Day, but I figured you also just needed a friend. And I realized how much I did love our friendship. Plus we were kids.”

He takes a breath to collect his thoughts. “I haven’t been in love with you for 10 years, just to be clear,” he says and chuckles. “Not that I haven’t thought about it either. Mostly it’s just been that you were my best friend and we went on these little friend dates and I didn’t think too deeply about it.”

“Did something change?” you ask, still not ready to address your own feelings. 

“I’m not sure how to explain it. Nayeon and I were just kind of throwing out things for Valentine’s Day even though it was still over a month away. And she made a comment about how she hoped you’d have someone so you wouldn’t be missing me,” Mingyu says and frowns. 

“She isn’t exactly the first to not like it,” you say quietly. 

“It wasn’t even that, it was all me,” Mingyu says honestly. “I started to think about how I wouldn’t get to spend it with you and that was…a wake-up call. Nayeon and I broke it off not much after that. And honestly, what I said about my friends was true. She hated Seokmin.”

“How does anyone hate him? He’s a sunshine baby,” you say and Mingyu laughs. “Minghao I get, maybe, because he can be mean if he doesn’t like you. But not Seokmin.”

“Right?” he agrees. “So I was thinking about you and us and trying to sort things out when Seokmin said he was going to introduce you to Jeonghan and my heart broke. I couldn’t imagine having just broken it off with Nayeon only to still not get to see you for our tradition. That’s when I knew for sure. And we aren’t kids anymore.”

“So, like, what do we do now?” you ask, and Mingyu studies you for a moment.

“What do you want to do?” he asks. “I mean, are you…oh my god, why is this so hard? I just told you how I felt but I don’t know…”

He’s rambling and it’s incredibly endearing because he doesn’t usually get flustered like this. It also makes you realize that he’s laid everything out while you’ve said almost nothing. You rest a hand on his leg to stop him from stuttering through things. “Hey, I realize I didn’t say this. But I do have feelings for you too.”

“You do?” Mingyu asks, his whole face lighting up.

“Yeah, dummy, that’s what I really meant when I was talking about sitting across from Jeonghan not feeling the spark. He’s a great guy but he’s not you,” you say easily. 

“What do we do now?” Mingyu asks, making you laugh. 

“I mean like I really wanna kiss you, so,” you say, watching as his eyes go wide, just for a moment. 

And then he’s sliding over on the couch, gently tucking a piece of your hair behind your ear, so careful like he can’t tell if it’s all really happening. So cautious. It’s at odds with your best friend who’s always tripping over his own feet and never seems to know just how big he is. Your whole body is hyper-aware of his and even though he admitted his feelings first, you’re still a little worried that this isn’t real either. When his lips finally meet yours, it occurs to you just how many times you’ve imagined this. How many times you’ve looked at his lips and wondered if they were soft or what they would feel like against yours. How many times you’ve wondered about his hands running over your body.

His lips feel better than you expected, the perfect mix of soft and firm against your own. One of his large hands cups the side of your face, fingers curling around behind your ear. You’re not even sure which one of you deepens the kiss, you’re only aware that your tongues are moving together and that it’s making you feel a little light-headed. The angle is awkward but you’re not sure you really care. You’re kissing your best friend and it’s everything you’ve ever needed and nothing like you thought. 

He pulls away and you’re a little embarrassed by the way your lips chase after his, a little unused to being the one that pouts in this relationship. Yet that’s exactly what you do when you see him just looking at you.

“Is this actually happening?” he asks. You let out of huff of air.

“Well not now, since you stopped kissing me,” you say. You expect him to laugh or roll his eyes. Instead, he only looks fond. So incredibly fond. 

“Never would’ve pegged you as the pouty, whiny type,” Mingyu says. Now you’re the one that rolls your eyes.

“I’m leaving,” you announce and get up. 

You’re actually a little surprised when he lets you stand up and take a few steps toward the door. There’s a chance for your stomach to drop, just a little bit. And then he’s grabbing your arm to spin you around to him. 

Fuck, he’s tall. Which you’ve always known, but it’s different when he’s crowding your space and caging you between his arms. Your back is against the wall when you finally tilt your head up to look at him. Whatever playful glint that had been in his eyes earlier is gone. There’s no question that he wants you as much as you want him, maybe more. 

You pull his face down to yours to kiss him again, harder this time, let your hands tangle in his hair that he’s finally grown out after literal years of asking him. His hands grip your hips, just on the right side of too hard. 

And, okay, you don’t want to complain, but Mingyu genuinely is a giant and it’s kind of hard on your neck to crane it so you can continue kissing him. Just as you start to rise up on your tiptoes, Mingyu’s hands move from your hips down to the backs of your thighs. You gasp into his mouth when he picks you up, balancing you against the wall. It’s nothing but heat between the two of you when you wrap your legs around his waist, trying to help him keep you held up.

“Fuck this,” he says quietly as he pulls you away from the wall. 

You squeak at losing your backrest and wrap your arms around his neck tighter like you’re afraid to fall. He just chuckles.

“You know I’d never drop you,” he assures you, voice low. 

Even though he said it, you’re expecting him to deposit you on the bed. He doesn’t. He’s so gentle when he places you on the edge of his bed and you’re wondering where all the restraint is coming from. You sure as hell don’t have this kind of control.

Almost on their own, your hands reach for his shirt and he watches as you unbutton it carefully, sliding it down his arms. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen him shirtless (and you’ve seen him shirtless a lot), he’s still beautiful. So beautiful that you don’t realize he’s reaching for the hem of your dress, that’s already almost at your hips from him picking you up, removing it quickly before unclasping your bra just as quickly. It leaves you almost completely exposed, only your underwear left. The urge to be shy is brief when you see the way he’s looking at you. You spare a moment to consider if anyone’s ever looked at you like that (they haven’t, you’re sure). 

This time the kiss you get is actually quick before his mouth moves down over your body. He sucks one of your nipples between his teeth and your back arches in response. And there’s something a little weird about it all. There’s nobody in the world you know better than Mingyu, with his endless energy and restlessness. But you didn’t know this side of him. The side where he takes his time, slows down so every moment feels more important, focuses on you and you alone. 

You don’t stop him as he continues to move down your body and nips along the way. It doesn’t matter that he’s marking you up, doesn’t make you pause like it has before with anyone else. Not that anyone is going to be seeing these marks anyway, since he’s currently focusing on your inner thigh. And fuck, it feels good, but you’re also a little impatient, a little needy when your hand knots in his long hair again. Without even seeing his face, you know he’s smiling. Smirking, probably. He doesn’t have to tell you that he loves to see you whiny for him. 

(He does anyway, though, because he’s still a menace to society and to you specifically. He doesn’t have to tease you either, but he does that too, making you beg before he removes your underwear.)

“Mingyu please,” you beg, already reduced to this. 

His legs on yours from between your legs and you let out a heavy breath. His eyes are still on you when he asks, “what is it you’re asking for?”

“Something, anything,” you say because you’re no longer too proud to beg. You can yell at him for it later. Right now you just need. 

A second later, he gives you what you asked for. He runs his tongue up your folds lazily, too slow. It’s deliberate, you know. And you know that you should appreciate that he’s not in a rush. It’s just that you’re so on edge and this isn’t helping. Maybe he can tell by the way your hand tightens in his hair or the way you moan or even the way you squirm with his tongue inside you. Whatever it is, something makes him speed up and praises fall easily from your lips. The praises only seem to push him on, which isn’t surprising. Mingyu has always had a thing about praise. 

Mingyu slides a finger inside your cunt without much warning and it’s all too much. You never really paid that much attention to his hands (which was good for your sanity, probably). But his long finger moves quickly inside your cunt and you clench around him without meaning too. He hums against your clit, makes it feel like a praise. When he slides a second finger in, you’re not sure how much longer you’ll last. The rhythm of his fingers sliding inside you along with his mouth on your clit is driving you wild. 

He curls his fingers inside of you and thrusts faster, not teasing now, certainly not dragging it out. It’s silent permission for you to let go. The orgasm rips through you and you fall back onto the bed, dully aware of him guiding you through it. You’re breathing heavily when you feel his fingers slide out and prop yourself up in time to see him put his fingers in his own mouth. And fuck, okay that’s also really hot. 

You lean forward to undo his pants. Those fall to the floor with his boxer briefs and your eyes go a little wide. He’s bigger than you’re expecting, not that you’ve spent much time thinking about him. Now he’s the one that looks a little shy, even though it was you that was just coming on his tongue. 

He goes to grip his cock and you snap out of it, gently moving his hand away. Instead, you lean forward to spit on the tip, spreading it along his length, thinking you might tease him. Just a little bit. Your strokes are slow, at least at first, and he just watches, seems to be caught up in the moment. Until he gets impatient and jerks a little into your hand, even though you can tell he’s trying not to. 

You just look up at him, watch his eyes on you as you take his cock into your mouth. Mingyu gathers your hair in his hands, but lets you go at your own pace. Slowly, you find your rhythm, taking as much into your mouth as you can. Mingyu seems to like to give praise as much as he likes to receive it, though, because it falls out of his mouth between his groans.

“Baby, hang on,” Mingyu says and gently pulls himself back. Your eyes go wide for a second before registering that his look is just want. “Can I…I mean, I really want to fuck you. Fuck, I really want to feel you.”

That, almost more than anything else, goes straight to your core. You know you’re already getting wet again but why does he have to look like that when he says it? Why does he have to look like this is more than he’s ever experience? Why did him calling you baby make your brain short circuit? 

“God, yes Mingyu, yes, I want to feel you inside me,” you manage to say as you’re moving back into the center of the bed. 

Mingyu is reaching for his bedside table the next second and you watch him. There’s a part of you that knows it’s best to be safe, knows that you never know. But the other part, the much louder part, just wants to feel him. It’s the part that knows even though he could be a fuckboy, he’s not. Knows he doesn’t sleep around. So you tell him you’ve got an IUD, even though he already knows, and not to worry. He checks, because he cares about you more than he knows how to express, but there’s a part of him that’s excited too.

He’s hovering over you the next second, pressing kisses against every bit of your skin his lips come into contact with. He only stops for a second to line himself up at your entrance, slides the tip between your folds and comments on how wet you are again. As soon as he presses the tip into your cunt, his lips are on yours again, catching the moans. Or maybe distracting you from how big he is inside of you. 

You’re thankful for this side of him, the side that’s so careful with you, the side that’s much more in control of his body than you’ve seen anywhere else. Thankful because he’s moving slowly, letting you adjust. And because you know neither of you are going to last that long once he actually does start moving. 

“Please,” you nearly whisper, fingers digging into Mingyu’s arms. 

It’s all he needs, though. He starts moving, slowly snapping his hips as he thrusts into you. It’s all so much. You’re not sure you’ve ever felt this much while fucking someone. You love to love and love feelings, but sex has always been somehow separate for you. Not that you don’t feel during sex. It’s just that you’ve always been able to separate the feelings. You can’t imagine doing that now and maybe that’s because none of them were Mingyu.

You know he wants to make it last, you do too, but it’s all just really overwhelming. So you focus on this moment, on how he speeds up, how his breath sounds so close to you, the way his muscles contract with each movement, on the way he stretches you. You dig your nails into his arms to keep yourself grounded and he groans. He picks up his pace a little more, pulling almost all the way out before thrusting all the way in, making you scream out. 

It feels like it all happens too fast. You’re still sensitive from your first orgasm. And you know Mingyu is close too, can feel the way his thrusts falter. You clench around him, let him know you’re close, say whatever comes out. Most of it is probably incoherent, you think. But he understands anyway, is right there with you. Your second orgasm rips through you even harder than the first. Mingyu thrusts through it, releasing into you in the process. 

It’s a few minutes later, after you’ve both somewhat caught your breath and he’s pulled out of you, that you fully realize what’s happening. Mingyu has one hand behind his head and the other arm around you, eyes closed. You prop yourself up on your elbow to look at him, appreciate all his features up close for what feels like the first time in all your years of friendship. He opens his eyes and meets yours. It’s the best smile you can ever remember seeing. 

“So, I guess we’re doing this,” you say, watching his face closely.

“Yeah, we are,” he agrees, no room for argument. “I’m not letting go of you now.”

You lay back down and bury your face in his side. You’re not sure what else to say. “Hey, Mingyu?”

“Hmm?” he says. You feel it more than hear it.

“Happy Valentine’s Day.” 

this ended up being a little longer than i meant, but let me know your thoughts <3

[ellethespaceunicorn]

Don’t Take My Sunshine Away, Part I

Title: Don’t Take My Sunshine Away, Part I

Rating: Explicit, 18+, Minors - DNI

Pairing: Lloyd Hansen x Reader (Sunshine)

Fandom: The Gray Man

Word Count: 2.5K

Series Summary: You lived your life on a schedule. Everything is planned out from sunrise to sunset. But what happens when you go out on a limb and out of your comfort zone? Will it have dire consequences?

Chapter Summary: You’d agreed to meet someone from the internet and you find yourself tied up in a basement. 

Warnings: dark fic!, attempted mugging, drugging, abduction, suspension bondage, Murder Daddy™️, oral sex (m receiving), dub-con, non-con, unprotected p-in-v sex, knife play, biting, blood play

A/N: I had an idea about Lloyd Hansen. Here is that idea. I haven’t written for Chris Evans’ character since Steve Rogers pre-Infinity War so this was an exercise and a half! Also, many many many thanks to @peyton-warren and @raccoon-eyed-rebel for helping me entertain Lloyd and for helping me to not lose my mind whilst writing this. Unbeta’d, we die like people who tried their best. 

Dividers by: @firefly-graphics 

Support/Reblog banner by me

Cover Art: by me

Spotify Playlist is here. 

Series Masterlist

My Masterlist

It’s just your luck, honestly.

You were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The place was a dark street. The time was 9:03 pm.

Well, technically you could blame your Tinder date for this. He didn’t fucking show up and he didn’t respond to your texts or calls. Like he just disappeared off the face of the Earth. You ended up waiting for an hour and decided to just pay for your third cup of coffee and leave.

Luckily for you, the buses were still running and there was a stop just across the street from the diner. You climb off your stool at the counter and exit through a particularly noisy door. It alerts some guys down the street and they turn to look at you before turning back to each other. Your sigh of relief is reversed when you get across the street and hear one of them shouting at you before moving closer.

You check the bus schedule that hangs in the bus shelter. You only have to wait for five minutes for safety. 

What could go wrong?

“Hey baby, can I have your number?” The overwhelmingly strong skunky smell of bad weed hits your nasal passage and you gag. “Oh, what? I’m disgusting to you? Stuck up, bitch!”

“Look, I’m just trying to get home. I don’t want any trouble.” Your hand went to your pocket where you had your safety keychain on your keyring.

“Too fucking bad because you just landed yourself in trouble, cunt,” Three long strides and he has you in his grip, pulling you behind the bus shelter into the empty alleyway. He pushes you onto the wet pavement and is on top of you in seconds. He watches as you open your mouth to scream and he clamps a hand around your throat, cutting you off. “Who do you think is coming for you, unlucky bi–”

“What the fuck…hey!” A voice is coming from the street and getting closer.

Your attacker is being pulled off of you and it’s so dark in the alley that you can’t fully see who grabbed him. You see a dark blur and you hear sounds of a struggle before a strong pair of hands is helping you up. 

“Are you ok, Miss?” You’re being ushered down the alley to the only lit streetlight. The more you walk under its glow, you notice the man who saved you. Your eyes are drawn to the push broom on his lip first, then to his slicked-back hair, and finally to his dramatically-patterned polo and pastel chino pants.

“Yeah, I’m fine…I think. Thanks.” You reach out your hand to touch his where it lingers on your arm. He doesn’t attempt to remove his hand, even after you squeeze it with yours quickly.

“No problem, why don’t I take you home? My car’s just around the corner here.” He does attempt to pull you towards the street. You know better than to let anyone take you to a second location, so you put your hand up with a smile.

“That’s quite alright. I’ll just wait for the bus if you don’t mind.” You try and remove your arm from his hand but his grip on you gets tighter.

“Let me at least walk you back to the bus stop?”

“I’ll be fine, I promise.” You try to turn away and he pulls you closer to him.

“Why did you have to make this difficult, Sunshine?” His angry growl is quiet but no less intimidating.

“I’m sorry, wha–” You don’t get to finish as you feel a sharp prick in your bicep. Looking down, you see a syringe sticking out of your skin. You go to pull out the needle but darkness fades into your eyesight and you slip off into the void.

You awake to a pounding in your head. Your arms are sore. Your legs are numb. And you can feel the stiff presence of duct tape over your mouth. Opening your eyes, you try to raise your hand to shield your eyes from the sudden brightness but you realize your arms and legs have been immobilized.

Looking around, you see that you’re suspended about three feet above the ground in some pretty elaborate rope bindings. Your wrists are crossed against your bare chest. Your left leg is being held up straight, while your right leg is only supported by two lengths of rope on your thigh, leaving your foot to dangle which means your pussy is on full display. 

You hear a door open and two sets of footsteps walk down the stairs. As the steps get closer, you hear two voices as well. 

“...didn’t have to punch me so fucking hard!”

“Yeah? Well maybe if you didn’t have your slimy hands all over my things, I wouldn’t have had to bruise your fucking spleen. Don’t be such a pussy, Dougherty!”

 “Fuck you, Hansen.”

“Don’t be sad I have a new plaything and you don’t.”

“Yeah. Just don’t wreck this one like that last girl.”

You struggle in the ropes and try and grunt loudly through the duct tape and the metal anchor that holds the rope loudly jostles. You pick your head up and look to your right as the men come into view.

As you recognize the man who had you on the ground, you couldn’t believe your eyes when you saw the geometric-patterned polo-wearing man who tried to “save” you. 

“I’m so glad you’re awake. I know you must have a lot of questions. But, you’re gonna listen first,” He walks until he can grab onto the ropes that hold you up. Looking down at you, he smiles sweetly. He begins to swing you toward him, letting go and watching as you swing back and forth, “Now, my name is Lloyd Hansen, but you are to call me Sir. You now belong to me. From every thought you have to every step you take. I own all of it. You may be wondering why I chose you of all people. Well, it had to be you, Sunshine. You’re the one.”

You are at his mercy as his hands grope at your tits and he pinches your nipples. You turn your head to look away but he just grabs you by the chin and makes you look at him.

“Now, Sunshine, you take what Sir gives you and you are appreciative. Trust me, this will all make sense later. But for now, I think it’s time I claim what’s mine.” He stalks over to your legs, standing between them. He places a kiss on your left ankle as he grabs at your right thigh. Pulling your core flush with his clothed hardness, you can feel exactly how excited he is to own you.

“I’d hate to interrupt, but–”

“But yet, you are interrupting. What?” Lloyd says as he trails kisses down your calf, his mustache tickling you as he moves.

“Well, I just…you said you would pay me. And I don’t really wanna stay around for whatever this is, honestly.” 

Lloyd finally turns his head to the other man in the room before patting your leg, “I’ll be right back, Sunshine. Don’t you go anywhere, ok?”

Fucking asshole.

Pulling out a wad of cash from his pocket, Lloyd starts counting bills, “So what do you say to…a hundred bucks?”

“I say fuck you if you think I’m taking less than half a yard. Shit, I didn’t even get to fu–”

The pop of a gunshot cuts through not only his sentence but also his left eye. You watch as Lloyd pockets the money and turns back to you with a smile.

“Fuck, ok. I didn’t plan on shooting him in front of you. But…well, I did,” He caresses your cheek before ripping off the tape from your mouth. He tilts his head and raises his eyebrows, expectantly waiting for you to speak.

“What do you want from me?” Your wrists hurt from struggling against the ropes.

“Oh, Sunshine. I want everything from you…eventually. But for now, I want to use your mouth.” He unbuttons and unzips his pants, “Those fucking lips of yours look so delectable.” He traces your bottom lip with his thumb and you debate biting it. Then, you remember the dead guy in the room.

Just comply. He won’t have to hurt you if you comply.

You clear your throat to get Lloyd to look at you. “Um…S-Sir?”

“Look at you calling me Sir already like a good girl,” He beams, looking down at you and holding your face in his murderous hand, “What do you want to ask me?”

“Are you going to kill me, Sir?” You couldn’t stop the fat tears from falling as you blink up at his face. You watched as his smile fell and he crouches to bring his face to your eye level.

“I would love to tell you that I won’t kill you, Sunshine. But it really all depends on you. If you don’t give me a reason to kill you, I won’t kill you. It’s as simple as that, Sunshine.”

You feel your eyes glaze over as you thought about what Lloyd had said. You didn’t want to give him a reason to kill you. You also know that there was no one coming to save you. You had no family, no friends, no roommates. You had lived a solitary life. 

The sound of Lloyd clearing his throat brought you back to reality.

“Use my mouth, Sir.” 

No sooner does the half-sultry half-terrified sentence leave your mouth, than Lloyd is reaching into his chinos to pull out his fat dick as he walks around you. You tilt your head back and are met with his impressive package. Eight inches of veiny length in your face suddenly is a lot to handle. As he strokes himself, he makes sure to keep it just out of reach. You hate yourself for licking your lips and following his hand with your eyes.

He positions his dick slightly over your mouth and squeezes his length from base to tip so that a dribble of pre-cum hits your lips. You snake your tongue out to taste him, the salty bitter taste you expect turns out to be almost sweet. Why couldn’t he just taste terrible?

“Open up, Sunshine.” He steps closer to you as you part your lips. He doesn’t stop pushing in until you feel his balls touch your nose. You close your lips around him and breathe through your nostrils. 

Inhaling deeply, you’re hit with the familiar scent of sweetness mixed with musk—sort of Earthy. If you didn’t know any better, you’d say it was African black soap. You knew the smell very well, you used the body wash every day.

“Fuuuuck, baby. Gonna fuck this throat.” He wraps his large hands around your throat as he pulls out slowly, leaving just the tip before he slams back in making you gag. 

He starts a steady rhythm and soon his balls are slapping you in the face. You can deny it all you want, but the way he fits perfectly in your mouth is obvious. The way your hands clench into fists and unclench denotes the urge to grab him and pull him deeper. 

One of his hands moves from your throat to your tits. Pinching your nipples and groping the soft flesh must not be enough because soon he is slapping at your breasts, getting you to grunt around his dick. The groan that leaves him is so sinful, you wish you could squeeze your thighs together.

But you don’t have time to worry about that because Lloyd is pulling out of your mouth. A string of saliva connects you until he steps back. You try to follow him with your mouth but he’s out of reach too soon.

“Sir?” You don’t like the air of desperation in your voice when you speak. You watch as he moves to the other end of your body and you soon feel his hand roam from your thigh to your pussy.

In one swift motion, Lloyd is inside your cunt. With the grip his hands have on your hips, you know it’s going to hurt tomorrow. But, that’s a later problem because Sir is fucking you like he hates you. You should hate this, but you don’t. At least not yet.

“Fuck, Sunshine…knew your pussy was gonna feel good but DAMN!” 

You can’t help the slew of sounds that escapes your mouth as he fucks you. The last of which sort of sounded like “Hnnnngg”. You feel as if you are going to explode at any minute but a spike of fear hits you as you think about where Lloyd is going to finish. You’re not on birth control. The speed of his thrusts picks up and you can feel him swell inside you. Fuck it.

“Sir, cum with me!”

“Fuck fuck fuck fuuuuuuuuuuck…” Lloyd latches onto your stretched left leg with his teeth, leaving behind deep and angry bite marks as he empties inside you. Pulling out, he watches his spend leak from you, righting his pants.

You are in a state of bliss so deep that you barely register as Lloyd bites into your right thigh enough to break the skin in a few places. But you can feel the sting of his butterfly knife as it moves over your skin.  The letters “LH” well with blood on your leg as silent fat tears roll down your face.  

“Now you can wear my bite mark like the badge of honor that it is. And when that fades, you’ll still have my initials so you can be returned to me if you are ever lost. I don’t plan on losing you, so you better not plan on getting lost, Sunshine.”

“I don’t want to get lost, Sir. I like it here with you.” The tremble in your voice doesn’t hide your fear, and part of you doesn’t want it to. You want him to know he doesn’t have to worry about losing you somehow.

“Think you can behave for a bath and a meal? I’ll have to supervise the bath, of course. And we’d be eating together. Unless you like being hungry, in your own filth with my cum dripping out of you all night. What do you say?” Lloyd offers, the fingers of one hand ghosting over his initials on your thigh.

“Would I still have to be tied up, Sir?” So many questions you could have asked, but you picked this one. 

Maybe if your hands were free, you could…do what? Fight him? Pick a lock? 

No, just comply. You can do this. 

“You won’t be tied up, but I do have a gift for you upstairs. But you can only have it if you’re a good girl. Are you gonna be a good girl, Sunshine?” While he spoke, he dragged a fingernail from your thigh to your upper torso as he walked around your body to your head.

“I’ll be a good girl for you, Sir. I promise.” The words on your tongue felt both foreign and familiar. Almost like you weren’t afraid for him to hurt you. 

You were afraid that he wouldn’t. And that scared you more than anything. 

Part II

A/N: There will be more of this. I’ve never written for Lloyd before but I enjoyed him as the little devil on my shoulder.

@raccoon-eyed-rebel @peyton-warren

If you would like to be tagged in the next installment, lemme know 🫣

[dutifullynuttywitch]

Starlit night

Wake the Dead 

Art by the wonderful @lilyoffandoms

Pairing: Troy Hassan x Eva Archer (f!mc)  

Rating: Teen (fluff) 

@choicesjanuary2024 prompt: Aurora (day 8)

Word count: 1,187 

Summary:  Several years before the events in Wake the Dead, Troy surprises Eva with a late-night outing within the confines of the Tower. 

A/N: In this story Eva is 17, in her last year at school. Troy is about 2 years older and just recently started working at the supply depot. 

Eva tosses and turns around on her lumpy mattress, sleep elusive. She had gotten expelled. Again. Gotten into a fight with her sister over it. Again.  

“Eva, for crying out loud, it’s the second time this month! You have got to be more careful. You know how things are here.” 

“But Brynn, I don’t get why we can’t even talk about how things were, before. Maybe if we knew more, we could make this place a bit better for everyone.” 

Brynn sighs “I know you mean well, lil sis, but the leaders of the Tower are clear about the rules, whether we agree with them or not. And trust me, we don’t want to get kicked out into the wilderness.” 

She sighs, trying to will herself to sleep. Maybe she should hold her tongue more, but it infuriates her that the Tower leaders only care about teaching them the basics for survival – any form of critical thinking frowned upon, worse, punished. 

Toc. Toc.  

A knock on the door shakes her from her reverie. She opens a crack to find a grinning Troy. 

“What the hell, Troy? It’s the middle of the night!” She whispers, glancing back to make sure Brynn hasn’t stirred. 

“You don’t say! Come on, I have something to show you. You’re gonna like it.” He winks. 

“I’m in enough trouble as it is. Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” 

“Afraid not, it’s kind of a middle of the night thing.” He grins wider. “And, we’ve gotta go now if we don’t want to get caught. So, what’dya say, Archer, up for a little adventure?” 

She frowns at him, but her curiosity is piqued.  

“Wait a sec.” 

She shuts the door on his pleased face and quickly pulls on a sweater, sweatpants and boots. She grabs a flashlight and sneaks out into the dark hallway, glancing one last time at Brynn’s sleeping form.  

She’s so gonna kill me. 

As soon as she shuts the door, Troy takes her hand, leading them down several service hallways then up a series of rickety fire exit stairs. They duck into the shadows a few times to avoid patrolling guards. 

“So where exactly are you taking me?” She whispers as they continue to climb ever higher. 

“It’s a surprise.” 

“Troy.”  

“We’re almost there!” He winks. 

Sure enough, a few minutes later he stops them in front of a steel door high up one of the Tower’s outer walls. He pulls out a key from his pocket and unlocks, pushing it open with a flourish. 

They enter a small room stacked with dusty cases filled with weapons, munitions and other military equipment. At the far end, a small balcony overlooks the forest surrounding the Tower.

“Troy, what is this place?” 

“An ammunitions depot. They have a bunch of these scattered around the tower to defend against drones. And in case of security breaches from inside the tower, I wager… Only Blackstock’s most loyal have access keys.” 

“Look at you, the ultimate insider!” Eva smirks at her friend, punching him lightly on the shoulder. 

“Nah, I just know people who know people. The surprise is over here. Come, take a look.” Troy leads her towards the exposed balcony. 

She gasps as she takes in the scene.  

The balcony is perched high above the ground, providing a bird’s eye view of the hills and valleys surrounding the Tower.  

She looks out at the snow-covered mountains and valleys. Millions of twinkling stars lighting the night.  

Her breath catches as she notices bright shimmering lights in hues of green, blue and purple, dancing across the sky. 

“It’s beautiful.” She whispers, stunned. 

“Yeah. They call them northern lights. I read about them in some magazine. I was telling Sam and the guys about them, and she told me she’d seen these strange lights while out patrolling the past few nights. Convinced her to lend me the key to this place. It’s pretty amazing, I never thought we’d see them so far south.” 

“Isn’t Sam that brunette guard you’ve been flirting with?” Eva smirks, teasing. “You charmed her into lending you the keys?” 

“What can I say, I’m irresistible.” Troy grins, puffing out his chest.  

“If you say so, Hassan.” She smirks.

Eva looks out at the magical scenery, captivated. The aurora dance in the skies in an ethereal, pulsating rhythm, reflected on the white blanket of snow covering the fields and mountains.  

She shivers a little as a cold gust buffets their small balcony. Troy pulls out a blanket from his bag. He sits down on the ledge and beckons her over, wrapping them both snuggly.  

“You came prepared.” 

He shrugs “Figured it’d get cold out here.” 

They sit in companionable silence for a while, in awe at the delicate dancing ribbons of light. Relishing in the peace and quiet of the outside world. 

“One day, Troy, I’m going to see all this from outside the Tower. There’s got to be something better out there for us...” 

“I’m quite alright right here, thank you very much.” 

“For someone who spends an inordinate amount of time reading up on old world curio, you’re not even a little interested in seeing and experiencing it for yourself?” 

“Oh, believe me, I am. If it weren’t for the flesh eating freaks I’d be long gone… but let’s face it, I’m too good looking to die.” He flashes her one of his trademark grins. 

She chuckles, a twinkle in her eyes. 

“So, speaking of good looks, why d’ya invite little old me when you could be making out with the lovely Sam?” Eva asks him teasingly. 

“First of all, I don’t need any magical dancing lights to up my game with the ladies.”  

She scoffs.  

“Second, I heard you got expelled. I swear Blackstock’s goons are becoming unbearable. And it’s not just the school. It's harder and harder to get my hands on contraband, they’re really cracking down on everyone.” He sighs. “Anyway, I just figured you could use a friend and some cheering up.” 

“Thanks Troy, this is just about the nicest thing someone’s done for me.”  

She kisses him on the cheek before laying her head on his shoulder, gazing out to the skies once more. 

Troy hopes the darkness hides his blush.  

He wraps an arm around Eva, pulling her closer as they both take in the mesmerizing display. 

Maybe one day he’ll be brave enough to tell her how he feels. 

But tonight, he’s content he was able to brighten her night a little. 

[wormdebut]

27 rated M or E because I’m a slut babe we all know this ❤️😘

HI Pretty. I know you wanted the sexytimes, but work sucked so you get FLUFF. (I'm writing kink King of Hell for you so don't worry you'll get ur slutty slutty stuff. I swear.) ANYWHOZLE, #27 on my Spotify wrapped is Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown On A Bad Bet by the Fall Out Boys so heres...whatever this is. ----

When he walks into the room, the walls lean in to listen.

----

He still remembers the first night Steve Harrington came sauntering into the bar. Eddie thinks it would be hard to ever forget a face like that.

It was back in January. The Chicago air was thick and cold and Steve came in with a green pea coat, hair sprayed up, cheeks red from the brisk air, looking like he had waltzed out of a fucking men's fashion catalog.

Eddie had thought he was gonna have a heart attack.

He almost did, when Steve had flashed that thousand-watt smile at him. He had ordered a whiskey neat and Eddie knew he was fucked then. Way back in January.

Steve told Eddie far too much about himself that first night, after what was surely one too many whiskeys. (Three, it was three. Eddie is a bartender okay? He remembers things. It's not weird. It isn't.) But anyway, Steve had opened up pandora's box. Everyone always did, especially to Eddie. That's why he and Wayne had opened the bar, people like to talk to Eddie. He never knew exactly why, but he had always been told he was easy to talk to. Apparently, Steve Harrington agreed.

Steve Harrington--college graduate, aspiring middle school teacher, recent divorcée with a shitty ex-husband--he apparently agreed, cause he told Eddie so many things.

And Eddie listened.

Couldn't tear himself away, even if he wanted to. (He didn't.)

When it had come time to lock up, Eddie had asked Steve if he had a place to go. Steve had smiled again, but not that thousand watt grin. This one was softer--private. Eddie felt honored to see it.

Hoped he would see that smile again.

And he did--because Steve kept coming back.

"Oh, darling, I know what your going through." Eddie had said…The night Steve told him, really told him, about his ex-husband. How awful Tommy had been, telling Steve he would never graduate. Telling Steve, Steve, he wasn't good enough, handsome enough, smart enough.

It boggled Eddie's brain. The man in front of him? Eddie would give anything to tell him everything opposite.

You're enough. You're a genius. You're fucking beautiful.

But instead he just commiserated.

Steve had raised his eyebrow at that. "You were married?"

Eddie had shook his head, hair catching in his eyes. "Legally? No, but--in all the ways that counted. This isn't about me though. Tell me whatever you need to, precious."

Eddie hadn't meant to flirt as hard as he had been flirting with Steve, but there was something about the way Steve's cheeks pinked up when Eddie called him sweet things, he couldn't help it. Not then, and now? Well it was worse now…but that's beside the point. Eddie is thinking about then.

The way Steve had blushed so hard, Eddie felt like he could taste the heat coming off his perfect cheeks.

"Precious, huh? You don't even know me." Steve had said--well, he had stuttered through it and Eddie was pleased.

"Yeah baby, but I want to. So tell me more." Eddie had decided then and there that it was his personal life mission to make Steve Harrington blush as much as he possibly could, if Steve kept coming around.

Steve had stuttered into his glass before leveling Eddie with a glare. Brat.

"I just--What if I peaked early?" Steve had asked and Eddie--Eddie guffawed. It was an ugly laugh and he hadn't even been ashamed by it.

"You? Peaked? Stevie, baby, have you seen yourself? You're incredible. No way you've 'peaked.'"

Things had changed after that night.

Steve had started flirting back.

----

"Eds! Hello? Babe?" Eddie was pulled out of his thoughts by Steve flapping his (big, very nice, strong) hand in his face.

Eddie shakes his head, blinking a few times to make sure, his perfect boyfriend--fiancée--damn he needed to get used to that--is still there.

"Sorry, doll. I was thinking." Eddie says, and Steve smiles--that soft, private one again. Eddie likes to think of that smile as his.

"Thinking about me?"

Eddie smirks, "C'mon baby, I'm always thinkin' about you."

Steve laughs, "Well, it's closing time, so why don't you keep on thinkin' about me all the way home, huh?"

Eddie shakes his head, can't get over the fact that Steve Harrington actually ended up being his. He grabs the keys to the bar from his back pocket, before hopping over the counter. "Sure baby doll, let's go home."

[sourw0lfs]

now we got problems

written for ‘charm’ wc: 548 | rated: M | cw: implied murder, mention of drugging drinks

this is lowkey a continuation of 'bad blood' from last month but it does also standalone. below the cut since it's a little bit darker this go around @steddiemicrofic

—————

If he stops and gives it a moment of thought, Steve realizes he's not all that surprised. He should be surprised. He should be so surprised.

But there's always been something just slightly off about Eddie. Something Steve could never quite put his finger on until it's literally staring him in the face. By it, he means Eddie, who is standing just inside the front door, eyes wild like he's been caught doing something he shouldn't.

And he has been, hasn't he?

With droplets of blood splattered across his shirt, Steve thinks Eddie's definitely been caught doing something he shouldn't be.

"It's--it's not what it looks like?" Eddie's voice is hesitant, damning him further.

"And what is it that you think this looks like, Ed?" Steve replies back, eyebrow raising as high as it'll go. "Because either that's your blood and that's really bad. Or it's not your blood and that's still really bad."

Eddie's shoulders sag, because he knows Steve is right, knows he can't talk his way around this one. He takes a deep breath and steps further inside. "It's not mine," he explains, moving slowly and carefully. "I, um…"

"So it's someone else's then?" Steve demands, cutting Eddie off. "Why do you have someone else's blood on your shirt in the middle of the goddamn night?"

"They wanted to hurt you, so I hurt them first."

The words hang in the air between the two of them for a long moment. Steve's mouth drops open as he connects the dots, then draws back up into an ugly scowl shortly after. "The guy from the bar?" he asks as his eyes narrow. "The one that bought me a drink?"

"The really charming guy from the bar that tried to slip something in your drink," Eddie bites back, defensive now. "The guy that would have hurt you. The guy that will never be able to try that kind of shit again."

"So you, what? Killed him or something?" Steve's voice is level but softer now, dropped down to something just barely over a whisper as he speaks his thoughts into the open.

Eddie reaches the couch, motions towards the spot next to Steve, and sits when he gets a nod in response. "Not just him," he says, equally quiet. It's an admission he doesn't need to make, but he feels like he should all the same. "But yeah, I did. I'm not sorry."

Steve lets out a humorless chuckle, blinking rapidly as he looks over at Eddie, eyes scanning across his face, down his neck and chest. "You can't just kill people, Eddie, even if they have bad intentions" he chastises, but the words don't have any heat behind them. If anything, there's a fondness just under a layer of disbelief. "Are you going to hurt everyone that tries to charm me in case they have some sinister plan?"

"No, not everyone. Just the ones that are open about wanting to hurt you." A pause. "You're weirdly calm about this."

"I'm sure that's only temporary, but I also just… I really fucking love you, you know?" Steve tells him with just the hint of a smile. "I'm glad you're looking after me. Maybe less murder next time though?"

"Maybe," Eddie agrees with a smile of his own.

[sarahowritesostucky]

📖"Alpha, Beta (& Omega)"

Rating: Explicit

Chapter Rating: Mature

Word Count: 3536

Pairing: Steve x Bucky

Tags: a/b/o, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, nobility/royalty au, alternate history, dom/sub elements, beta bucky, hurt/comfort, age gap, domestic discipline, spanking, head of household, wedding night, Edwardian time period, m/f/m poly marriage

Summary: To save House Barnes from scandalous ruin, James must agree to a contracted marriage, accepting Lord Senator Steven Rogers as his Alpha, Husband, and Headship.

To read previous parts of this series first, got to the masterlist

7. A Honeymoon, cont'd

Chapter Summary: The idea that he might’ve possibly married the one man who can look past the twisted wreckage of his body seems almost too good to be true, but Bucky wants it to be true more than he’s wanted anything in a long time.

There’s no reason why their second night together should be so much more nerve wracking—other than perhaps that Bucky isn’t drunk this time. 

The smallness of their stateroom doesn’t become apparent until the bedroom door is shut. It shushes quietly over the carpet and ‘snicks’ into place as Steve pushes it closed. What they’re left with is a dark, ornate space, made of paneled walls and heavy lampshades and a bed that’s small but meant for two.

Bucky looks from the bed to Steve. He swallows. “Are we going to, um …” He shifts uncomfortably, suddenly feeling overly hot in his dinner jacket. He tries not to keep glancing at the bed, but Steve notices anyway.

“Only if you want to,” he says softly, walking over and drawing him in close. He kisses him and pulls back, eyes searching his face. “Do you?”

Bucky blinks dazedly, unable to think when Steve’s face is so close, when he can feel his breath against his skin and his large hands at his waist. Being this close with another person is still so new.

They've been apart since the wedding, Steve away in D.C. for his Senatorial duties for almost a week before they'd been able to leave for this trip. It had meant another week where Bucky was able to live at home, and after the intensity of their wedding night he'd been grateful for the reprieve. But now he wonders if the week apart was really for the best, or if perhaps his nerves have only multiplied because of it.

He blinks up at Steve, taking in his handsome features and the eager scent of him, his blue eyes that are tender but darkening with interest the longer they stand there and Bucky doesn’t push him away. Shakily, Bucky nods. “Okay,” he whispers.

"Okay?"

Bucky doesn't want to seem like some scared virgin. He puts on a brave face and nods. "Yeah."

It must be convincing enough, because that’s all it takes. Steve exhales in relief and kisses him again, his hands sliding up Bucky’s back to hold him closer. It’s deeper this time, more sensual, Steve’s mouth capturing his and taking the kiss from him, slow and purposeful.

Bucky’s only ever kissed a couple of people before, but he can tell that Steve is a good kisser. The alpha slots their mouths together with practiced finesse, and when his tongue slips out for the first time, heat blooms in Bucky's gut and a soft sound breaks loose from his throat. He parts for him without thought, letting him inside.

"Mmph. C’mere, Sweetheart.” Steve draws Bucky over to the bedside, holding his gaze and gauging his reaction as he reaches for the lapels of his dinner jacket. They’re both still in their tuxes from dinner, which means that it’ll take time for Steve to …

His lips part as Steve slides the jacket down his arms. It’s shocking, how intimate it feels. Silly, really, when Bucky thinks about it. He’s still dressed, after all. And they’ve already been naked together. 

But this is different. This isn't him ripping off his nightshirt in the blink of an eye. It's intentional, and slow, and without five cups of wine blurring the edges of his memory. This is Steve; undressing him, revealing him, taking liberties that no man ever has before. A liberty that's meant to be reserved for one's Headship, alone.

Bucky never intended to come to his marriage bed a virgin, but somehow he's managed it all the same.

The jacket falls to the floor, and Bucky makes no move to stop Steve as he loosens both of their bowties and their shirt collars pop free. Steve’s breathing stutters as their necks are bared. His eyes slip closed and he inhales, a little pinch appearing between his brows that makes the swirling feeling in Bucky’s belly grow stronger. “Bucky," he whispers, "You smell so good."

“It–it's not ..." Bucky flushes. "I mean you don’t have to say that."

"What?"

He lowers his eyes. "I’m just beta,” he mumbles, embarrassed. “I know my scent isn't—”

Steve cuts him off with a tut and a hand on his chin. “Not to you,” he says. “But to me …” His eyes close briefly once more as he inhales, and he looks so pleasured by it, that for once Bucky wishes he could know what it’s like. “You’re beautiful, Honey,” Steve whispers, before opening his eyes again. “You believe me?”

Bucky forces himself to nod, because he knows that’s what’s expected. Besides, he doesn’t want to put a damper on the moment. Steve looking at him this way is making his cock stir in his pants, and Bucky wants to … he thinks he maybe wants to …

He leans closer, so close that their chests touch, his eyes fixed on Steve’s neck. “Alpha?” he breathes, not realizing that he's used the title. “I, um ... Do you think I could—"

“Go on,” Steve croaks, voice thick with arousal, because he certainly noticed what Bucky just called him. “Ask for what you want, Beta.”

Bucky blushes madly. He’s never reveled much in his designation, it’s nothing special. Nobody craves a beta, nobody has a biological need for one. That’s why the Thirds in marriages are almost always beta. They’re unnecessary, an afterthought. But the way that Steve speaks to him, the way that he looks at him with hooded eyes and calls him his Beta, well … Bucky does not feel like an afterthought. He feels desired.

Steve tilts his head to the side in an open show of trust. “Is this what you want?” he says. “It’s okay. You can.” 

Bucky’s stomach flips at the sight of his Alpha bearing his throat for him, because of how intimate it is. He puts his hands on Steve’s shoulders and leans in, taking the permission that’s been granted and nuzzling up against his neck.

"Put your mouth right against it," Steve instructs quietly.

Bucky does, and he inhales slowly ... His breath catches in shock. “Steve,” he whispers.

“It’s okay.”

A quiet moan escapes him as he scents his Alpha for the first time—as he realizes that he actually can. “Oh …” He drags his lips over the skin, eyes slipping closed as he takes in Steve’s scent. It’s stronger than any person's scent he’s ever smelled. Granted, he’s never put his face in an Alpha’s neck this way, the impropriety of such an action being unfathomable in polite society, but even still, he’d never imagined … “I thought I couldn’t,” he whispers. “I thought betas couldn’t—”

“You just have to be closer.” Steve's hands circle around to his lower back. “And we’re married now, so you’re allowed to be."

Bucky nuzzles behind the hinge of Steve’s jaw, underneath his ear, and down the tendons of his neck, overcome by the rich, heady scent of his Alpha, and shocked at how much he can scent him like this. He hadn’t realized this was something he could do. Not like this. “Is it like this with all alphas?” he asks, nosing back down to the spot where Steve’s glands are. He feels Steve’s hands tighten playfully on his waist.

“You planning on scenting anybody but me?” he chuckles, though the lighthearted tone of the question is diminished by the arousal that’s already turned his voice to rocks. He swallows heavily, and Bucky feels the motion under his lips. He’s struck by the urge to kiss him there, to let his tongue slip out and taste … “Oh god.” Steve moans and his hands grip Bucky tighter. “Bucky.”

It’s just as much about the intimacy of the gesture as it is about the scent itself: Nobody but lovers do this.

A rumble starts up in Steve’s chest, hardly noticeable at first. Bucky feels it more than he hears it—an alpha’s pleased growl. His cock pulses in his underwear and his hips jerk forward without thought. He gasps at the answering hardness he feels beneath Steve’s pants. He pulls back and meets Steve’s gaze, wide-eyed, and for a split second they do nothing.

Then Bucky whines and tips his head. 

Steve growls and surges in, hips grinding forward against Bucky’s as he sticks his face in his neck, scenting him aggressively and cursing softly. “Fuck. Bucky.”

“You’re hard,” Bucky breathes, wrapping his arms around Steve’s shoulders. He can’t resist putting his own nose back to Steve’s glands, too.

“You smell so good, Beta,”

“I didn’t think we did. I thought betas were just—” He gasps at the sharp nip of Steve’s teeth.

“Everyone has a scent, Bucky. Even betas.”

Bucky shivers at his chiding tone. “Do you … do you like it?” he asks. “Does it feel good?” 

It certainly doesn’t feel bad, if the state of Steve’s erection is anything to go by, but Bucky still can’t help but to ask. He has no way of knowing just how much this does for Steve. He’s not sensitive like Steve is, doesn’t respond to it in the same way. Pheromones are for alphas and omegas, not betas. Under his skin, the glands in Bucky’s neck will never be prominent enough for a mating bite, never enough to put out the sort of scent that an omega can. And since he can’t scent an alpha from a socially appropriate distance, he’s always assumed that they couldn’t scent him.

But Steve is acting like he can smell Bucky just fine, gripping him by his lower back and groaning like he’s turned-on the longer he keeps his face stuffed in Bucky’s neck. “Yes,” he whispers against his skin. “You’re perfect, Bucky.” He places one last kiss on his neck, then pulls back. His hands move for the front of Bucky’s waistcoat. “This okay?” he checks.

“Y-yeah.” Bucky forces himself to hold still, trying not to shiver in anticipation as Steve unbuttons his waistcoat and pulls it off him. 

He goes for his shirt next, murmuring a quiet little, “Shh, let me do it,” when Bucky’s hands fly up in a self-conscious attempt to help. Steve removes the shirt and doesn’t hesitate at all before grasping the hem of his undershirt as well. “Lift your arms for me,” he says, and makes another pleased rumble in his chest when Bucky obeys. “Good boy.”

Even as his dick is jerking at the sound of “good boy,” Bucky feels a wave of self-consciousness roll over him as he’s bared to his Alpha … again. 

Oh! His arm, his— 

He’d nearly forgotten, because he’d been so caught up in the revelation of Steve’s scent and of Steve liking his scent. But now, half naked and breath quickening with nerves, Bucky flinches. He moves to turn away, to step back and try and tuck that side of himself out of Steve’s sight. When Steve growls and stops him, he whimpers. “S-steve—”

“Shh,” he soothes. “Don’t pull away.” 

Suddenly, the room’s heavy lampshades don’t seem nearly heavy enough. Bucky thinks of their wedding night and of the room at Steve’s parents’ house. Surely it hadn’t been just the wine, he thinks. That room had had lamps, too, when Steve had laid him down and consummated their union. Hadn’t it? This room seems a hell of a lot brighter—too bright—and Bucky starts looking around to try and find his shirt. “Steve, wait, I …” 

It’s too late, Steve’s already looking, gaze tracking up and down Bucky’s body: over his chest and down to his belly, up to his shoulders and to his side, his neck … his arm. Steve's expression goes pinched and sorrowful as he looks at it, and Bucky doesn’t know how to handle that. It doesn’t look like disgust on Steve’s face, but—

“How did it happen?” he asks softly. “Hm?” He strokes up and down the top of Bucky’s arm, fingertips playing against the mottled and uneven skin. “Bucky?”

“Mm?” Bucky’s mentally calculating how long it might take to go over and flick off the lights.

“You don’t have to be scared, Honey. Please tell me?” Steve bends down and kisses the scars at the top of his shoulder. It’s just a brief kiss, but it’s still his mouth, and Bucky’s heart lurches at the action.

“It was an accident!” he gasps, forcing it out in one huge breath because he has to, because he doesn’t want to say it but Steve wants to know. “It … In the winter, I was walking alongside the road and a carriage was coming. They said that I fell into the road.”

“You don’t remember?”

“Just … flashes. I’d hit my head.” He frowns, the memories coming to him in the usual confusing blur. “They said there was ice, that I slipped. The coachman didn’t have time to stop.”

Steve nods sadly. At the top of Bucky’s arm, his fingers trace the worst of the burn scars. “The carriage’s lanterns caught fire to your clothes,” he murmurs. 

“Yes.” Bucky looks away from where Steve’s keen eyes are sweeping over the wreckage of what used to be a useful arm. “Between that and the nerve damage, I’ll never use it for much. It’s just in the way now,” he says. “Ugly.”

That, he quickly finds, is the wrong thing to say.

Steve yanks him in sharply in displeasure. "I’ll excuse that once, since you’re young and stupid,” he growls, tugging hard at his lower back. It makes their hips grind together and, still not used to such brazen physical contact, sends a resurgent thrill through Bucky’s body. 

He’s about to try and get enough air back into his lungs to squawk in protest, but before he can, Steve shoves his knee forward, wedging his leg right between Bucky’s. Bucky gasps and, thrown off balance, clings to Steve’s arms. “S-steve!”

“I won’t let you fall.”

“Y-yes but,” he looks down at where Steve’s thigh is forcing his legs apart and pressing against his—

“Let me tell you a little bit about your body, Beta,” Steve growls. “You are damn-near perfectly built, do you know that?” 

Bucky stammers. “Steve, you don’t have to—”

“Stop talking,” he Voices—just a whisper, but the combined domination of that quiet command and his leg makes everything in Bucky’s guts tighten, his cock rapidly stirring back to life. He whines and squirms, sure that Steve can feel it, and the alpha’s dirty hum and purposefully-tensing thigh muscle tells Bucky that he does. “Shh. Listen. Are you listening?”

“Nngh,”

“You’re not ugly, Bucky. Not at all. I know you were worried about it that night. I don’t know everything you've been through, if maybe you’ve faced rejection from other people, or …” He trails off, as though trying to think of what to say. “Bucky ... when I saw you on our wedding night, naked for the first time, and getting to hold you in my arms and make you feel good? Watching that was …" He exhales shakily. "Honey, you were beautiful. I couldn’t believe that I was getting to touch you, that you were letting me have you like that. And your body …”

Bucky looks away. “It’s not—”

“It is,” Steve insists, hands digging into his waist. “Stop saying that it isn't. You’re the spitting image of a handsome young beta, let me tell you. The exact sort that most alphas are attracted to. A classic beauty.” Bucky opens his mouth to protest, but Steve shuts him up with another squeeze. “I’m not kidding, Buck. You’re like a painting. Just look at you. Your body is—”

“Steeve,”

“—lean and toned,” he insists. “And responsive,” he grinds his thigh forward. “Young and soft still, in that way a boy is when he’s just becoming a man.” He hears Bucky’s embarrassed whine and hums. “And strong, too. With scars and muscles, and—” he flexes his thigh, “—hardness, in places that make you absolutely, undeniably male.” He pulls him in harder against his body. “So yes, I like the way you look. A few scars that show what you’ve been through don’t matter to me. They wouldn’t matter to a lot of people. Not when this is what’s on offer.” He sees Bucky’s disbelief, and his expression turns sly. “What? You need me to prove it to you? Don’t worry, Beta. I will. I can’t wait to get you naked and see all of you again. Put my mouth on you again.”

God. The sudden image of Steve’s face buried between his legs, sucking him, flashes through Bucky’s mind. He squeezes his eyes shut at the insistent words, but Steve just kisses his lax mouth and purrs more praise against his lips, “You’ve got a pretty face, don’t you? Mmhm, sweet and handsome. Most boys would love to look as handsome as you, don’t you think?” Bucky shivers and Steve chuckles softly. “Yeah, I can tell that you know that already, don’t you?”

“Nngh,”

“Yep. I thought so. Mouth like this?” He reaches up and softly traces Bucky’s lower lip with his thumb. “No way you made it all the way through school without being told once or twice what a mouth like this is made for.” 

Bucky’s heart stutters in his chest, and underneath his clothes, his cock pulses and blurts a bunch of precum into his underwear. “Oh.” He’s still got his eyes closed, but he hears the way Steve hums, pleased, like he knows exactly what’s happened.

“Yeah. Boys as pretty as you always know it by the time they’re your age. I’ve heard enough stories about how James Barnes’ dance cards never have space.”

Not true, Bucky thinks. Not anymore, leastways. Still, he can’t help but react to the desire he can hear in Steve’s voice, the things he’s saying. They may not all be true, but it feels good to hear praise instead of pity, for once. And Steve just keeps going, murmuring quiet, delicate filth against his cheek, making it impossible to forget how close they are. Bucky’s holding stock still, because even the slightest movement against Steve’s thigh will make him moan uncontrollably, he’s sure of it. 

Steve cups his jaw, thumb brushing over the cleft in his chin. “Bucky, will you look at me please?" Bucky doesn't, so he murmurs a quiet, "Open your eyes, Honey," in his Voice. It does the trick. Bucky's eyes slide open, and Steve smiles sadly. “I want you, Bucky. I wouldn't've agreed to marry you if I didn’t. And I don’t want to hear that you’re thinking about yourself this way. Like you’re something to be put up with, or endured.” He searches out his eyes. “Tell me you understand.”

Bucky swallows heavily. “I …” 

He doesn’t look in mirrors anymore, is the thing. Not when he's naked. And it's been a long time since anyone's complimented him on his appearance. People are afraid to bring it up. They only comment on his accomplishments now, on his interests or his demeanor, never his looks. 

“Beauty is on the inside.” 

That was one of the first things the nurse had said, her voice wavering, before Bucky had worked up the courage to look down at himself. It was how he’d known it would be bad, when he finally did look. 

But Steve’s voice hasn’t wavered this whole time, and his hands are still roaming Bucky's body. And Bucky knows that if he were to shift against him in the right way, he’d feel the alpha’s arousal pressing up against him. Despite everything, he's starting to believe Steve in all that he’s saying—Maybe not that it’s true, per se. Not objectively, anyways. But maybe … maybe there’s a chance that Steve really does believe it, is really able to see him that way. 

The idea that he might’ve possibly married the one man who can look past the twisted wreckage of his body seems almost too good to be true, but Bucky wants it more than he’s wanted anything in a long time. “Do you mean it?” he mumbles. “You … don’t mind the way I look?”

Steve tilts his chin up. “No, I don’t. And I’d like to see all of you. I don’t want you to be ashamed.” Slowly, he reaches for the front of Bucky’s trousers, fingers poised to undo the buttons. He waits for his nod of assent, and smiles when he gets it. “Good boy,” he praises. Bucky’s face flames hot at the words, and Steve notices. “Do you like it when I say that?” he hums, opening Bucky’s pants with a little smirk. “When I tell you you’re good?” 

Really, it has more to do with the “boy” than the “good,” but Bucky isn’t sure he’s capable of articulating that at the moment. Not when his husband is currently peeling his trousers from his body. They fall to the floor and Bucky whispers, “I dunno.” He feels like he very suddenly doesn’t know a lot of things, after the speech Steve just gave him. “I … Yes?”

Steve doesn’t look like he’s entirely paid attention to his answer, because he’s staring down at Bucky’s underwear, at where his cock is swollen and pressing against the fabric in an obvious bulge. Steve lets out a debased sort of noise that lets Bucky know he’s very, very turned-on. “Christ, Bucky,” he groans. He reaches forward, but pauses at the last second. “You do it," he says. "Take your underwear off.”

The command isn’t in his Voice, but it has a similar effect. Bucky feels that same flush in his cheeks, that pleasant tug in his guts, hooking in behind his belly button and urging him to do as Steve says, to be good for his Headship so that he can hear that low, rumbling sound of approval coming from his chest again. 

Taking a deep breath, he shucks his underwear off. And for the second time ever, he stands before his husband completely naked.

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[kings-highway]

How do you feel about AtsuKageHina?

m 🤔

i don't like it, to be honest. And that's mostly because I've got some kind of vendetta against AtsuHina in all of it's forms. I don't like it. I think it's slightly more tolerable with Kageyama in the mix, though. BUT. The point of these asks is to seriously consider it and treat it well so I will see what I can find.

my first instinct is to dwell more on Atsumu/Kageyama, because while I do think AtsuKageHina can really only exist as Atsumu joining an established KageHina, I think their dynamic could really make or break the polyship.

I think, obviously, they'd have a lot of intense rivalry over volleyball and then also Hinata, especially since Kageyama is on the opposite side of the net so to speak. Atsumu being more of an ass than usual complaining about Hinata "telling the Adlers all their secrets" and Bokuto/Sakusa being like "dude it's not that serious" but it IS it IS that serious (to him) (he hasn't realized he has a crush on Hinata)

I think there's also some really interesting possibilities in, like, AtsuHina coming first, bonding on the Adlers and falling in love, and Atsumu just realizing that Hinata has always had this fixation with Kageyama and even if he trusts that Hinata loves him, he knows that Kageyama exists on a kind of different spectrum? Like it's not about romantic love, necessarily, for KageHina.

BUT Ignore the more plot-heavy descriptions I do really, really like the idea of AtsuHina being a thing and then both being aggressively in love with Kageyama who's just Autistic and On Another Team and so they're barking and growling from the other side of the net and Kageyama is just like "yeah this is totally about volleyball :)" and so oblivious to the fact that he's being pursued so heavily (and in Hinata's case, as been being pursued for a WHILE.)

I also think this ship could work as AtsuHina and KageHina as a love angle, rather than a completed polycule, even though I think Atsumu and Kageyama would have the most interesting dynamic as a trio.

Hinata would absolutely call them "his boys" whenever they're going anywhere. "Got my keys, got the volleyball, got my boys, let's hit the beach!" vibes

Hinata going to Brazil would fracture the group for a bit, Kageyama and Atsumu not really knowing how to be in a relationship without his energy, and I think they would break up for a bit and then be absolutely tormented by it, like... they don't even tell Hinata really (who they're maintaining as long distance) but they "mutually agree" to step back from each other because it just doesn't feel right and then like cue some kind of "standing outside your window with a sign" scene or a confession in the rain where they realize that they really did like each other.

Atsumu can absolutely fill a similar rival role as Hinata for Kageyama, in terms of passion in the relationship, but I think Kageyama is like... weird territory for Atsumu. Because Atsumu is mr "best setter in Japan" but Kageyama as we know is a proper prodigy. And Atsumu probably finds him beautiful in a really abstract way, why like's obsessed with the way he holds his pencils and mugs of tea and the way he stretches and just can't get enough of him because Atsumu has never in his life had a setter he thought he could look up to (he's arrogant! he's always thought he was the best) but now there's this gorgeous, passionate, and LOUDLY talented setter who just sweeps him off his feet and goddamn it feels good to be able to idolize (worship?) someone. Its just an entirely different kind of Love I dont think he's had the opportunity to do. Make him breakfast in bed and let him be the passenger princess.

Side note: Osamu would hate this ship. RIP to the second twin could you imagine him putting up with this shit?

Overall Rating:

Me, Personal Interest: -4/10

Concept/Potential: 8/10

(as much as I don't like AtsuHina or this ship I'm not gonna pretend like I don't get it I know where you people are coming from)

[juiceinpanties]

10 Things You Hate About Eddie Munson, pt. 3

Pairing: Eddie Munson/afab!reader

Rating(s): Chapter: R; Fic: E

Tags: eventual smut, penetrative sex, oral sex (both m and f receiving), fingering, subbie!Eddie, masturbation (m and f), fake dating, van sex, secret relationship, antagonistic relationship to friendship to lovers, casual sex, not-so-casual sex, phone sex, drunk reader

Summary: Your best friend, Nancy Wheeler, is absolutely dying to date Steve Harrington, but her parents have the weirdest rule: Nancy can't date until her friends (e.g., you) do. Nancy begs you to date someone, anyone, and eventually you agree. Meanwhile Steve offers to pay Eddie "the freak" Munson to ask you out. What could possibly go wrong??

Notes: This is, quite obviously, a 10 Things I Hate About You au, with a slight twist. Throw in some fake dating, a 90s setting, and here we are. Thanks to @tonybourdain​ for dragging me in and continuing to enable me. The van scene is partly her doing...

Please note the tags. This chapter is rated R and is sort of smut-adjacent. Actual smut will occur in future chapters, promise.

Feedback is always welcome and appreciated and PLEASE reblog! Completely blank blogs that just like will be blocked because I'm gonna assume you're a bot. I've been here a long time.

In case you wanna read on Ao3 instead

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

You aren't looking forward to seeing Eddie because you have no idea what happened at the party Saturday night, except that Nancy said Eddie was the one who brought you home. You hope to anyone who's listening that you didn't make a complete fool of yourself, or (god forbid) make a pass at Eddie.

You find him Monday morning outside leaning against the building, one ankle crossed over the other. He's smoking, but he puts it out as you approach.

"Hey," he says when you get close enough. "Feeling better?"

"Than Saturday? Considering it's mostly a blank I'm gonna say...yes?"

He grins and tugs at a lock of his hair. "Yeah, you were pretty messed up." His expression turns serious. "Steve and I thought maybe the guy giving you the drinks might've slipped you something. Glad you came to find me while you were still sober enough."

You frown down at your boots, then up at him. "I woke up Sunday morning still dressed with a pounding headache and a bottle of Tylenol and glass of water on my nightstand. Was that you?"

"The headache, no. The rest, yeah. I figured you'd have one hell of a hangover."

"Hm," you say. You look away. Back. "Thanks," you finally manage. "That was nice. How'd you get me past my parents?"

"Practice," he says with an insouciant grin.

You roll your eyes, but then reach into your bag for something. "So, um. I...well. I made you this. As a kind of thank you, and because I guess it's what people do? When they're dating? Anyway, whatever, here." You push a tape at him, and he catches it before it can hit the ground.

He reads the track list and his expression goes through a series of changes, each one pissing you off more than the last. "Uh...that's—that's nice, but I can't accept this."

"Hm. Okay. It's not an engagement ring. Why the fuck not?"

"It's got—fuck. It's got Tiffany! And Wilson Phillips! And—and—Pearl Jam!"

"I can read, Grove. I made the fucking thing. Your point?"

"Fuuuck. I was hoping you wouldn't remember that."

"I said mostly a blank," you snap. You wish now you hadn't used the stupid nickname. Clearly he doesn't deserve a nickname. "So do you want the tape or not?"

"I can't—I mean—it was nice of you to—but I—”

"Forget it! I'd hate for you to strain yourself." You snatch the tape back from him and spin on your heel. "Clearly this was a stupid fucking idea. I'll tell Nancy to find someone else."

He watches you go in wide-eyed horror. "Wait!" he cries. "Hang on, wait, don't—awww, come on!" This last in response to you flipping him the bird over your shoulder as you disappear inside the building. "Fuck!" he growls. "Fuck, fuck, fuck! A girl gives you a tape, you take the fucking tape! It doesn't matter if it's Kenny G's greatest hits! Fuuuuuck!!"

The door opens and he peers that way hopefully, but instead of you he sees a very annoyed-looking Steve Harrington. "What the fuck did you do?!" he says. "I just talked to the girl I'm paying you to go out with, and she told me to go fuck myself and take you with me."

"Shiiiiit!" Eddie says. He presses both hands to his face and scrubs. What to do, what to do?! He drops his hands and squares his shoulders before casting Steve a steady, stoic look. "There's nothing else for it, my man. I've gotta sacrifice my dignity on the altar of impressing a girl."

Steve snorts. "Sacrifice your dignity!? Dude, have you seen your hair??"

Eddie ignores him. "Your friend Robin's in band, right?"

"Uh, yeah. Why?"

"Gonna need her help." He tugs a lock of hair over his mouth as he paces, thinking. Nancy can get him a copy of your schedule. During band period would be best. He can cut class. His attendance has been decent this year, but it's just one class. And it's important.

It's a perfect plan. He'll win you back, plus some, and then maybe you two can discuss that big ol' crush you had on him that "went away." That's a topic worth exploring further—even if it means enduring mindless pop music and Eddie Vedder.

“You STILL aren’t speaking to him?!” Nancy says a few days later. You’re in the cafeteria having lunch and revisiting your tiff with Eddie.

“He was a jerk!” you say, stabbing your mashed potatoes with your spork.

“He was, but…”

“Nance!” You scowl down at your tray and push it away. “Okay, look. First I made an absolute fool of myself at the party. Got completely wasted and sloppy.”

“That wasn’t your fault!”

“Regardless, it happened. Then he was apparently so NICE, such a GENTLEMAN.” You roll your eyes. “So I made him that stupid tape and he acted like I handed him toxic waste! I spent the whole day on it!”

“Yes, he acted stupid, but—”

“Oh god speak of the annoying devil,” you say. It’s too late to hide: he’s seen you and is heading straight your way.

“Ladies!” he says as he drops down next to you. He gives Nancy a nod and you a smile. “Still craving cheese fries?” he says to you.

You frown. “I’m sorry?”

“Saturday night you were dying for cheese fries, but I thought it was better to take you home instead. Mostly because you passed out in my van.”

You look away, flushing. God how humiliating!

“But I thought if you were still in the mood, we could go today after school.”

Your eyes snap to his face and you scowl. “Maybe I didn’t make myself clear on Monday.”

“Noooo, you did. I just thought you might’ve changed your mind.”

You lean in. “Nope!” you say, carefully popping the p.

“Okay then.” He waves, and a kid from his Hellfire Club runs up. With a guitar.

“What—?”

“You brought this on yourself,” he says and stands. He tosses the strap over his head and strums. The sound fills the cafeteria, and you see another kid by the wall manning an amp.

“Eddie, WHAT are you DOING?!” you hiss.

“This one’s for you, babe!” He launches into a song that you don’t recognize—until he starts singing. “Children behave! That’s what they say…when we’re together!”

“Oh. My. God!”

Nancy grabs you across the table. “Is that—?!”

“Oh my GOD!!” It’s a loud, kinda slowed-down, metal version of I Think We’re Alone Now. Most famously covered by mall princess Tiffany.

"Running just as fast as we can...holding on to one another's hand..." He's really getting into it, grinding on the guitar and singing to her like it's his own personal rock concert. The entire cafeteria is watching, shocked, but the Hellfire kids are into it.

About halfway through the band marches in and starts playing along. The high school marching band. You bury your face in your hands and want to sink into the floor, but when you peek through your fingers at him part of you admits it's kinda cute.

"I think we're alone now! The beating of our hearts is the only sooouuunnd!" As he repeats the chorus he advances closer, and at the last line he drops to his knees and slides across the floor to end up directly at your feet. He unplugs the guitar and stands to take a bow. Most people are yelling and clapping, but a few boos are mixed in. He seems to enjoy those just as much. He flashes a double bird and sticks his tongue out, Gene Simmons style.

"C'mon, princess," he says with a grin. "Let's go get cheese fries."

You have class, but...

With a laugh you grab the hand he's offering. "Yeah, okay. Because that was the stupidest, ballsiest thing I've ever seen."

He grins even bigger, the lines around his eyes and mouth creasing his face. "Stupid and ballsy, the Eddie Munson special."

"Come on," you say as you drag him from the caf and his adoring public. "We'll chat more about your stupid balls over fries."

You're both sitting in the back of the van, doors open, legs hanging over the edge. You're singing his version of the song and he's got his head buried in his jacket.

"Stopppp!!" he cries. "Please! You're so goddamn mean."

You break off, giggling, and throw his pack of cigarettes at him. "How the hell did you come up with such a ridiculous plan?"

"I don't know. It sounded good at the time! And, look, it worked. You cut class to come have fries with me."

"We don't have fries yet," you say, "and I could cut and run at any time."

"Noted. So you hated it?"

You grin and duck your head, then peek at him. "No, I didn't hate it. It was cute. Stupid, but cute. How'd you learn the song that fast?"

He shrugs. "It wasn't that hard. And, I dunno. I'm a fuck-up, but I'm not bad at music."

"Eddie," you say with a little frown. "Don't talk about yourself like that." You poke his arm. "You're not a fuck-up. You're just..."

"Weird?"

You smile and nudge him. "You," you say.

"Right. A squishy, not-scary Muppet monster."

"That's right," you say, your smile widening. "Grover."

"You know, it's kinda growin' on me. The nickname."

"Funny," you say softly. "I was thinking the same about you." You lean in and kiss him softly, easily. It's quick, and you might have gone in for another, but the carhop arrives with your fries.

"Damn," Eddie mutters. "Saved by the cheese."

You giggle and the two of you dig in.

"But," he says after a food-filled silence, "I gotta protest: I might be stupid, but my balls aren't."

"Ohhh. Smart balls, huh?"

"Yup. These babies solve quadratic equations!"

You cover your mouth as you laugh and take a sip of coke. "Maybe you should ask them for help in math."

"Hm. You know, it's funny you should say that." He licks cheese off his fingers and wipes them on his jeans. "You're in AP Chem, right?"

"Mhmm."

"Cool, that's cool. I'm in chem, too. Not AP, of course. Just regular. But, uh. I gotta pass. I HAVE to. I gotta get out of Hawkins High."

"Third senior year," you remark. "It's maybe time."

"You're tellin' me. Anyway, you think maybe I could get some help? Like, uh. Tutoring?"

You consider a moment around a mouthful of cheesy potato. "Yeah, I could do that. Tomorrow, maybe? Unless you're busy."

"No, nope, I'm free. Tomorrow'd be great. We can go to my place after school. My uncle works doubles on Thursdays, second and third."

"Ouch," you say with a wince.

"Yeah, it's killer." He sighs and drops his napkin into the empty fry tray. "So. I gotta try again."

"Try what again?" you say with a frown.

"The kiss. You didn't see my best stuff, princess." He gets up to toss the trash in a nearby can, then boosts himself back into the van.

"Sound awfully sure of yourself," you say, scooting closer. You tug a little at his jacket and slide your hand under it, against his chest.

"You're gonna like it as much as you loved that song. Swear."

You let out a soft laugh. "Didn't love the song, pretty boy. Sorry."

"You liked it," he says.

"Hmm," you say, doubtfully.

He gently cups your face and rubs his nose against your cheek. "You liked it," he murmurs.

"Eh," you say, still playing it cool even as your pulse kicks up and your cheeks flush.

"You liked it," he says, firmly, and turns his head to capture his mouth with yours.

It's slow and easy and lingering, and when he pulls away you’re both a little breathless.

"I liked it," you whisper.

He grins. "I know you did, princess." He kisses you again, a little harder, and you make a soft noise before your hands come up to bury themselves in his hair.

He sucks your lower lip and nibbles gently. You're so soft and sweet; he can't get enough of kissing you, and it's only been two kisses.

You can't believe a boy can have lips this juicy. They're soft and full and he tastes salty like fries and sweet like root beer.

His tongue slides into your mouth and you meet it with your own. Tug his hair a little to pull his head back so you can nip at his jaw. His throat.

"Baby," he rasps. "Baby girl!"

You whine, just a little, and you both fall back into the van and somehow your leg hooks over his hips and you're grinding against each other as the kisses get hotter and deeper. His hand slides down to rest on your hip and creeps up just under the edge of your shirt. He tickles your side and you giggle.

"Ticklish?" he murmurs. "Good to know."

"Use your powers for good, Munson," you breathe and kiss him again. You press closer and rock. His hips fit between your thighs and you can feel... "Oh." You grin a little. "Hello."

"Shit!" he says. "Shit, babe, I'm sorry!"

You laugh a little. "It's okay," you breathe. "It's fine."

"Are you sure?" He's flushed red and sweating. "I'm really sorry."

"It's not like you can control it." You rock against him a little. "I don’t mind." You bite your lip. You want to see it. Touch it, even. But…

"Maybe—" You clear your throat. "Maybe you should take me home. I have a ton of homework."

"Yeah, sure, that's cool. That's good. I’m really—"

"Don't apologize again." You kiss him. "I promise I'm not mad or anything. Having a nice hard cock pressed against me is flattering, actually."

That seems to take some of the pressure off. "It's not stupid, either."

"Mmmm a penis that can do complex math. Be still my beating vagina."

He cracks up. "Wow," he says. "If I'd known it was that easy!"

"You calling me easy, Munson!?"

"...no..." He squirms a little. "Just, uh. Easily aroused?"

"Mmm." You lean in to bite his ear. "Says the boy with the raging hard-on."

"Come on, princess," he murmurs. His hand slides down over your ass. "You tellin' me you aren't wet right now?" He nuzzles your chin. "Throbbing a little, maybe?"

You don't want to admit it, but you've been at least fluttery since that first, quick kiss. Now your panties are soaked and you can feel your pounding heart in your cunt. You wish something else was pounding in that general vicinity.

"Maybe a little," you say. "A tiny bit."

He chuckles and squeezes your ass before he kisses you again. "Come on, baby doll. Lemme get you home. Or back to school?"

You lean away from him so you can grab his arm to check his watch. "Home," you say. "School's a wash for today."

"You got it." He kisses your nose, your forehead. "You're so pretty," he murmurs. "And soft. And smell amazing."

You brush your fingers over his kiss-swollen lips. "You're pretty. And soft...in some places. Fozzie Bear."

He grins. "Wacka wacka." He reluctantly pulls away and helps you up. "Shit," he mutters. "Head rush."

"Uh huh. Not much blood to the brain, huh?"

"Your fault, princess."

"Oops," you say, unrepentant.

He rolls his eyes and lifts you down from the van. "Brat."

"Muppet."

"Touché," he grumbles.

You're laughing as he helps you into the van's passenger seat. Maybe fake dating Eddie Munson won't be so bad after all. He's a good kisser and only pretends to be a jerk most of the time. You can work with that.

[talanashta]

Show Night - Chapter One

For this prompt ("Getting ready for a show") for the Four or More Fic-a-thon @fourormore

Rating: M (because of Ch 2) | CWs: Swearing | Word Count: 1,834 | Pairings: Spicy Six Plus Chrissy Polycule | Steve's POV

Continuation of the "my lonely days are gone" series. Chapter One of Two (expect Chapter Two probably tomorrow)

“What time does Eddie’s band go on again?” Steve asked the girls.

“Eight o’clock,” Robin told him, for the third time that day.

Steve nodded, “Right, right. So why are we getting ready at two?”

Chrissy paused where she was picking out clothes to look at him. “Because everyone else is going to come over later to get ready.”

He took a second and thought that over. “I still don’t get it.”

“This happens every time, dingus,” Robin chimed in from the ensuite, where she’d started applying her eye-liner. “You’ll remember once they get here.”

“Hm…” Steve hummed. “Whatever. I’m not going to get ready until closer to when we have to leave. I don’t want to spend all day in make-up. It always makes me itchy.” He got up off the bed and headed down to the kitchen for a snack.

“No one’s making you wear any, Steve!” he heard Chrissy call after him.

Around six, he was pulling a couple giant casseroles out of the oven and setting the table for everyone. He was just waiting for Nancy and Jonathan to arrive any minute toting all the little dorks. Since he was expecting so many for dinner, he counted the chairs and place-settings one more time for good measure to make sure he had enough spots out. Fourteen was a tight squeeze even around the giant dining table, but they made it work.

Oh, but Eddie was eating with the band before their show, so he needed one less space. He grabbed the plate and silverware there, heading to the kitchen but promptly turning around. Oh yeah, Eden was in town, so they still needed fourteen spots. Good thing he’d made so much food.

Steve heard the front door open just as he set the last side dish on the table. Perfect timing! Instantly the house was filled with the yelling of the kids about who-knows-what. They were always arguing (or debating, as they called it) over something.

“Quiet down!” Robin yelled from the upstairs landing.

“You’re not our mom!” Mike yelled back, snarkily.

“Well, your mom says inside voices!” Steve snapped. He didn’t want to risk getting a headache before they even get to the show. He’d be miserable.

Mike waited until Steve was looking at him then made a face and stuck his tongue out.

“Michael!” Nancy scolded.

“He’s not our mom either!”

All the other kids gasped so dramatically you’d think they were in a soap opera. “How dare you say that to our mom, Mike? Apologize!” Dustin cried out.

Steve had to turn and fuss with the table so the kids couldn’t see him trying not to crack up. Meanwhile, the boys devolved into a slap fight over the issue. Whatever. It was quieter than the yelling, and like Mike said, he wasn’t their real mom.

Eventually, with Nancy giving threatening looks and Robin pulling kids by their ears, everyone got settled in at the table for dinner.

Argyle moaned at the first bite of food. “This is so good, man. I don’t know you do it.”

“Shmackin’,” Jon agreed, and the two laughed at their inside joke.

Eden turned to Steve from where she was sitting next to Argyle. “It is really delicious. Thank you for dinner.”

Steve blushed and ducked his head. “It’s nothing.”

She insisted, though, “No, I mean, I know how much work it is to cook for this many people. Good job.”

He smiled at her. “Thanks. I love doing it.” He really did. Having the house full of his family like this, enjoying something he did for them? It was the best.

Eden snorted. “At least one of us does. I’ll leave it to you then,” and she turned back to rejoin Argyle and Jonathan’s conversation.

After dinner, Steve tried to clear the table, but Nancy pushed him in the direction of the stairs. “Go get ready. I’ll have the kids help me. You cooked; it shouldn’t be your responsibility to clean up.”

He knew there was no arguing with Nancy when she got an idea in her head, so he just nodded and headed that way. However, based on what the kids had arrived in, he knew about half of them were going to want to borrow clothes and whatnot for tonight, so he went through Eddie and Robin’s section of the closet and picked out stuff that would fit the kids.

By the time he was picking the last shirt (one for Will), Dustin barged into the room.

“I need something to wear, Steve!” he whined.

“Already ahead of you,” Steve reassured him and passed him a stack of clothes.

Dustin cheered, “Awesome. Thanks!” and then locked himself in Steve’s bathroom.

“Hey, I need to get ready still too!” Steve yelled at him, banging on the door.

He heard Dustin’s voice all muffled through the door. “There’s like six bathrooms in this house! Use one of the other ones!”

Steve groaned and mumbled to himself, “But all my stuff is in there. Ugh.” He hung his head and took a deep breath. “Okay, plan B.”

He gathered all the clothes for the other kids and a new set for himself. There would probably be eye-liner in the downstairs guest bathroom, or he could ask Nancy for some. He nodded to himself at his plan.

Downstairs, he saw the kids (minus Dustin) gathered together, chatting. El was standing behind Max braiding her hair for her, so he headed that way first.

“Hey, Ellie. Max. I’ve got band shirts and stuff for you guys if you want to dress up tonight,” he offered.

Max squinted at him (well, a little to the left of him, but it was still intimidating). “What band?” she asked, frowning.

“Uh…” he looked at the shirt in his hands. “Slayer?” he said tentatively.

She gave him a firm nod and stuck her hand out. “Acceptable.”

He handed it to her and gave El her shirt.

El unfolded the shirt and looked at the logo. “Bitchin’,” she said with a small smile on her face. “Thank you, Steve. We will go get ready.”

El followed Max as she wheeled to her bedroom. As soon as the door closed, he heard giggling from the two.

“What about us?” Mike complained.

Steve looked Mike up and down. He was already wearing an outfit that Steve was pretty certain Eddie owned too. “Fuck off, Mike.”

That earned him the bird from Mike and a snort of laughter from Lucas and Will.

“May I borrow a shirt, please, Steve?” Will asked sweetly.

Of course; Steve wasn’t going to say no to Will. “Yeah, man. Picked you both out one,” he told Will and Lucas. After the boys collected their shirts, the three headed upstairs to get ready too. But now where was Erica? He knew she showed up with everyone so she had to be somewhere.

He wandered the ground floor looking for her, eventually giving in and asking the other girls, who told him she was already getting ready in the downstairs guest bath.

Steve knocked three times on the door and called in, “Hey, Erica. I’ve got some metal clothes for you to borrow if you want.”

The door opened and then slammed shut so quickly he barely saw her, the shirt yanked from his hand in mere moments. “Thanks,” she said through the door. “Now go away. I still have to do my hair.”

Steve just blinked for a minute and stared at the door, hand gripped in a fist like the shirt was still there.

“But I needed…” he mumbled to himself, thinking of the eyeliner he swore was in the top drawer. “Okay, let’s find Nancy instead, I guess.”

He headed down to the basement where they’d renovated and added extra rooms to fit everyone. And of course, the door for Nancy, Jonathan, and Argyle’s room had a sock on the door. Steve groaned and grumbled, “C’mon, guys. We have to leave in twenty minutes. And you decided now was the best time to hook-up?”

On the off-chance there might be some, he checked the basement guest bath for eyeliner but didn’t find any, so he headed all the way back upstairs. When he checked his room, Dustin was still locked in his bathroom.

“You even have your own room here, man! With its own bathroom! So why my bathroom?” he complained as he went back into the hallway. Of course, Dustin didn’t hear him or respond, but it helped him feel better.

That was the only upside about his parents spending ridiculous amounts of money having this house custom-built when he was a kid. They showed off their wealth with each bedroom having its own bathroom. Usually, it was a bit overkill, but when everyone was over, it really helped.

Unfortunately, with this many people trying to get ready at once, all the upstairs bathrooms were occupied. Except… the Sex Dungeon bathroom. God, he wished that name hadn’t stuck for the room. It literally just looked like a guest bedroom! He slowly entered the room, looking both ways before going in. He didn’t want any of the kids to see and get curious about this room.

The four of them did their best to hide any toys or anything that were in here and make it look as normal as possible so the kids wouldn’t poke around, but he didn’t want to push his luck and have one of them follow him in here and get bored and start looking where they shouldn’t.

Luckily, he found Robin and Chrissy just chilling on the bed inside, reading magazines and listening to a tape.

“Oh, thank God, you guys,” he said.

Robin dropped her magazine to her lap and raised an eyebrow at him.

“The kids have taken over all the other bathrooms, and I can’t find any eyeliner, and the others decided now was a great time to have sex, so I couldn’t even ask Nancy.”

“Really?” Robin asked, in a judge-y tone. “We have to leave in like ten minutes.”

Steve threw his hands in her direction. “That’s what I said!”

“That’s okay. We figured this would happen,” Chrissy comforted him.

Steve’s eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Every time the kids come over to go somewhere, you get so side-tracked trying to get everyone else ready that you forget to get ready yourself until it’s too late and everyone’s occupying every spot you could use,” Robin told him, looking him in the eyes.

“No,” he said, disbelieving, looking between the two of them.

“Yes,” Chrissy and Robin said together.

Robin nodded. “So I made sure that we kept this bathroom free, and I already grabbed all the stuff you need, like your hairspray and eyeliner and stuff.”

Chrissy got up off the bed and pecked his cheek. “Come on. I’ll help you put your make-up on so you’re ready on time.”

“Is this why you guys got ready so early?” he asked.

“Mhm,” they chorused.

[raleighcarreras]

perfectus

Part 2: the city broke my heart

Pairing(s): wanda maximoff x black!fem!reader

Rating: M (language)

Wrd Cnt: 1k

Warning(s): none

Part(s): 1

Notes: The song is HAZE by 5SOS, someone asked to be tagged and I probably should have responded directly to them, but just letting you guys know, I don't do tag lists because I find them a bit clunky. Sorry about that!

Got me feelin' alright when the feeling's all gone. Got me feelin' uptight every moment you're gone. Got a piece of your mind and I'm gonna hold on. It's a hell of a ride...lovin' you.

Wanda's eyes rolled at the sound of your phone dinging with another Tinder, Hinge, and/or, Bumble notification.

She of course agreed to help you out on this frivolous journey, but that didn't mean she had to pretend to enjoy every second of it.

Especially, when you guys were supposed to be having your once a week roomie time.

You had only made those profiles 2 hours beforehand and you already had like 40 matches on each app.

Wanda knew you were desirable, she had told you as much, but damn, there was not a doubt in her head that this wouldn't make your ego borderline unbearable.

With your head in her lap, Wanda could feel you staring up at her to see if she had noticed the dinging as well.

The two of you were supposed to be paying attention to the cheesy little Christmas movie Under The Christmas Tree that Wanda had found on Hulu.

Instead, you were watching each other.

"Wan-"

She paused the movie, "Check your phone."

You shrieked in happiness and scrambled for your phone that was seconds away from buzzing right off the table.

You sat up so the both of you had a good view of your phone screen.

"Loser."

"What!? You haven't even read his bio yet, Wanda."

Wanda shrugged, "I don't need to, I can see his face. And his face says 'Hello, I am a loser and my bio will only prove that fact'."

You grumbled something unintelligible. Peaking at his bio, did only enhance the fact that he was indeed a loser, but Wanda didn't need to know that.

You tried to reject his like as subtly as possible. But, Wanda, ever vigilant, snickered under her breath.

"Told you."

"Yeah, yeah. Okay, how about her? She's hot, and we have a lot in common."

Wanda eyed the profile with scrutiny, "Uh-Y/N?"

"Yeah?"

"She looks like me."

You frowned and eyed the various pictures of the woman, "...No, she doesn't."

"Yes she does. Wait a minute. That is me!" Wanda grabbed the phone from your hand with a horrified huff.

"I've never seen these pictures of you before." You said slightly concerned.

"That's because they're from when I still lived in Sokovia...PIETRO!"

You grabbed your phone from her when she went to pick her own up. Undoubtedly, about to make a very heated phone call to her twin brother.

You squinted at the pictures again, sneakily saving a couple, "You should dye your head red again."

Wanda seemed to barely hear you as she angrily waited for Pietro to answer the phone.

When he did, Wanda immediately started speaking in Sokovian. You could hear him howling with laughter through the receiver.

"Why are you catfishing people as me, you little shit?"

Pietro hummed, "I'm not catfishing people as you, I was catfishing Y/N as you. She is not random people, she is our Y/N. There's a difference."

Wanda rolled her eyes, you only shrugged with a smile, starting to see the humor in the situation as well.

"This isn't funny."

"It is sorta funny, Wands."

"No, it isn't."

Wanda could practically hear Pietro's smirk through the phone when he spoke, "Yes, it is, Wands.

"You two are insufferable."

"I wasn't going to start an entire relationship like on that show. Once we matched I was just going to say 'it is me your best friend Pietro and my sister lik-'" Wanda hung up the phone, her cheeks tinged pink.

"Ha. Such a jokester, that one..."

"He just likes the attention. You know that."

Wanda only nodded along absentmindedly.

You continued to scroll and swipe on your phone.

Eventually, you put the phone down and gestured for Wanda to unpause the movie.

"When's your next shift at the bar?" You asked suddenly.

Wanda smiled, "I own the place. I don't have shifts."

"Well, when are you going in?"

"Hmm, probably around 7 tomorrow night. Why do you ask?"

"No, reason. I was just wondering."

Wanda didn't believe you, but didn't say anything otherwise. If only because the movie was starting to get exceptionally corny and good.

Wanda found out why you. asked her schedule at exactly 7 pm the next evening.

You walked in, taking your coveted spot at the bar counter. Though, you were dressed far less casually then you were when you normally came in.

"What are you doing here?" Wanda asked, sliding you your go to vodka cranberry as if it was second nature.

Then, a hand placed itself softly on your shoulder, "Are you Y/N?"

Why would you touch someone without being sure of who they were first? Wanda followed the offending appendage all the way up to its owner's smug face. She knew that stupid, dumb face anywhere.

"Maria Hill." Wanda muttered with as much disdain as she could muster under her breath.

You stood, with a friendly smile, "That's me. Nice to meet you, Maria."

Maria leaned in for a hug.

Wanda's eye twitched. Maria was going to be charged extra for all of your drinks now.

You expertly dodged it with a handshake instead.

Wanda smiled. Your drinks were free again like they always were.

Maria ordered then excused herself to the restroom breifly.

You and Wanda both turned to each other in unison.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a date here?"

You bit your lip. Wanda wanted that to stop immediately.

"Because I knew you would say 'No' and I need your help to gauge if she's normal or not. You said yourself I tend to pick losers."

Wanda very much regretted saying that.

"She's not normal. I hate her."

You frowned in palpable disappointment, "Why?"

Wanda didn't have a very good answer. Or at least not one that she was ready to give away yet. Part of the reason she disliked Maria was because the woman was sort of like her business rival of sorts.

Maria owned the flower shop across the street and because the both of their establishment's names started with the same letter it meant they often fought for space at the local flea market where Wanda gave away samples.

Maria always got the better, bigger space. And it was mostly because Wanda couldn't wake up earlier than 8am no matter how hard she tried. But that was beside the point.

The other part of the reason Wanda hated Maria was because Maria apparently liked you.

Wanda gaped a few more seconds before answering, "Because um she owns a flower shop and she didn't bring you any flowers."

"Oh." You said quietly. You had noticed that too, "But it's just drinks. Barely a first date or anything."

Wanda shook her head, "You deserve flowers no matter the occasion."

"Thank you, Wanda." You said softly. A slight heat to your cheeks, that wasn't really noticeable.

Maria sat back down next to you, "Sorry about that. I came straight from the shop and wanted to make sure there weren't any thorns hiding anywhere."

"I understand."

Wanda handed Maria her drink. The most expensive bottle of scotch Wanda owned. Not only did she wake up at ungodly hours of the morning, she was also...rich...or something. And she had a stupid face!

Wanda moved to the other side of the bar so she didn't have to deal with that. Checking occasionally to make sure you didn't need saving.

After what felt like hours, Maria finally vacated the premises and you stayed in your seat. Scrolling through your phone.

"How'd it go?"

You shrugged, "Alright, I guess. But I couldn't stop thinking about what you said."

Wanda grimaced, "I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's okay, you were right. She talked about herself the whole time. And she didn't get all the dirt from under he nails. She also said your scotch was bad."

Wanda gasped, "That bitch!"

You laughed loudly, "Yeah, safe to say I will not be seeing her again."

Wanda resisted the urge to celebrate.

"So, does that mean you're done with this whole scheme then?"

You looked and Wanda and laughed again, "After one bad date? Of course not. I've already got another one for tomorrow."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, see you here again tommorow, Hot Stuff."

Wanda could only stand there with her mouth agape.

She was starting to think that Natasha and Sam were right.

[beautifulhigh]

Tenderness and rot share a border (AO3 link) -- Chapter 3/5 -- 5k -- rated M

When Carlos was a rookie cop he played a part in bringing down a major crime syndicate. Attention to detail, finding the connections others miss? He helped make the case which had roots all the way through the system.

Newlyweds Carlos and TK are returning  from their honeymoon, looking forward to starting their married lives together. Any ideas they had for what that would look like disappear when they are met at airport arrivals by their fathers, APD, and Texas Rangers.

Carlos' past is crashing into his present and now the whole future they had planned is under threat.

Anyway, when I was developing this fic idea the first scene of this part was one I had so clearly in my head, and it amused me so much that I had to write it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

--

"Now I'm gonna say this one time and one time only," Judd announced clearly as the lights in the bunk room were being dimmed or turned off. "This ain't no college dorm situation, and there's not even a door for a sock to be hung on. I don't wanna hear anything because I won't think twice about pulling your asses into the shower and coolin' you off."

Nancy barked a laugh which she then tried to stifle.

"You have nothing to worry about, Judd," TK huffed, pulling himself in close to Carlos' body. The bunk wasn't designed for two people but it wasn't impossible to fit them both in there either. "Family friendly, we promise."

"I don't mind sleeping—" Carlos whispered but TK clamped his hand down over his mouth to stop him from continuing that thought.

"So you all object to me and Nance bunking up, but we're cool with them?" Mateo asked. "How's that fair."

"Tell you what, you get a literal hitman taking shots at you and then you can share a bed with your girlfriend in a room with five other people," TK said.

"I'm just saying."

"We talked about this, we all agreed," Paul's voice of reason came through. "Whole point of this is to make sure there are as many people as possible between Chris and Carlos. Only moral this guy seems to have is that he doesn't want to hurt anyone else, so we make sure it's impossible for him to get Carlos alone."

"I get that," Mateo protested, "but if something happens I'll want to protect my girl too."

"Your girl?" Marjan repeated as she walked into the room, fixing her hijab into place. "Not your team, your family?"

"You saying I can't take care of myself?" Nancy asked, sitting up in the soft darkness to stare across at him.

"Of course you can," Mateo said, "but it's my job to try. Help me out, TK, you get it. You protect the people you love."

"Which is why we're all doing this," Paul said. "Got nothing to do with who you bunk up with."

"Trust me, this is not the sexy sleepover you think it is," TK said as a few more lights went out.

"Yeah, because we should be gettin' some actual sleep," Judd said.

After that the conversation was firmly over, and the bunk room settled into the usual sounds TK knew and often found reassuring. Paul's occasional turn of a page in his book, the occasional note or beat escaping from Mateo's single earbud (he'd pretty much conditioned himself to only be able to sleep with music playing, that's how bad Owen's "One Night Strand" phase had been).

"Hey," TK whispered softly.

"Hey," Carlos replied.

"I know this is weirder than being at Dad's—"

"It's fine," Carlos said. "Really. I… actually enjoyed today. There were times, hanging out with everyone, that I felt like I didn't need to be watching over my shoulder. Like I didn't have to constantly be on guard."

"I'm glad."

"I'm glad you got to go back to work too," he continued. "TK, you need to be out there. I'll be fine here, there's plenty of people around. Being at work, we both know it'll be good for you."

"I know, and I know that everything is in place here, it's just… I still worry."

"I'm not saying you need to stop worrying, I know better than to ask that. I'm just saying that you being out there, doing your job, having some normality going on that isn't this? It's what you need."

"I need you to be OK," TK said.

"And I need you both to shut up," Judd complained.

Keep reading

[thedeluluverse]

POSTING IT EARLY!!

Author’s Note: So happy to finally get this out there! BIGGEST thanks to my bestie @starfire21, as this is mainly her baby; I just wrote it down, hehe. I hope y’all like it, and please let me know what y’all think! Until next time, lovelies! <3 Also here is the link for Part 1 so you can get additional info :)

Summary: A talented saber smith’s life changes forever when the Sith crosses her path as she attempts to reform the corrupt government she serves. Will they be a help or a hindrance?

Pairing:  Sith!Wooyoung x femjedi/sabersmith!Y/N. Other kpop idols in the story, but the main relationship is between Woo and Y/N.

Rating: 18+

Genre:  angst, fantasy, kpop, smut, fluff

Word Count: 5,703

Warnings:  verbal abuse/bullying kind of all around, mentions of attempted suicide, abandonment and self-worth issues, HJ kinda bipolar and entitled/creepy, bisexual suffering, oral (m. receiving), tit play, clit play, p in v raw sex (don’t do this irl y’all), slight mentions of kink

While Wooyoung is busy trying to decide whether to go out of his way to a farther shop or enlist the help of Y/N to fix his saber, Y/N is eating breakfast and informing Huyang of the previous night’s events.

They both agree that Winter’s attack seems quite random, as they have no personal strife with the Sith and have only met her once.

Huyang suggests they both lie low and not make any far treks unless absolutely necessary for at least a few days in case their lives are in jeopardy.

Still sore from the fight, you don’t disagree, for once. There is plenty of work to be done in the shop, and there is no rush, so lying low sounds nice.

Meanwhile, in Coruscant, the Council discusses the growing threat that the Sith are becoming to the galaxy.

After a long while of brainstorming, Master Choi Minho has an idea, “Why don’t we collect more taxes from the people and place military personnel around our headquarters?”.

There is a wave of silent, approving nods until Chaewon says, “That isn’t much of a plan. What about protection for our people? If their livelihoods are getting strained, they deserve to reap some of the benefits as well!”.

Resounding chuckles fill the air as her cheeks turn pink and her eyes start to well up with tears, feeling embarrassed. However, before she can speak up, Master Chungha smirks. “Oh, you know what, that would be a lovely alteration to the plan! If we were still younglings. Grow up, Chaewon; that isn’t how the world works. We maintain order, and our subjects will be at peace if we are safe. Imagine we are in danger, then they panic; how dangerous that could rapidly become!”.

Most of the Council is clapping for the Master's use of logic when the youngest female Jedi to ever be on the Council, Rei, speaks up, "Yeah, even I know better, and you surpass me by 3 years. You’ll never make it onto the Council if you stay so naïve”.

At this point, Chaewon’s knuckles are white, and she is about to burst with fury at the disrespect.

Luckily, Master Jaeyun diffuses the impending explosion just in time. "All right then, this has been a great start in figuring out how to counteract the Sith issue, but we should dismiss for the day. When we gather next time, let's be more respectful and open-minded. Until next time, stay safe, everyone. Meeting adjourned.”.

Waiting until everyone else leaves to discuss the new developments with Somin and Jihyo, Chaewon remains seated while the rest of the Council files out of the room. Adding insult to injury, Chungha and Rei pat her head as if she were a child as they leave.

As soon as the door shuts, the floods can no longer be contained in her eyes, and Chaewon breaks down. Thankfully, she isn’t alone for long as her allies rush to her side quickly.

Somin reassures her gently while gently rubbing her back, "Let it out, dear; I am so proud of you for standing up for the people and keeping your emotions in check with everything else that happened. While you do need to fine-tune the execution, it was better than staying silent."

Meanwhile, Jihyo kneeled in front of Chaewon with a fierce look in her eyes, “Say the word, and I’ll use my strength training on that prick Minho and his ‘secret’ lover. I’ve been dying to slap them both for so long!” Somin scolds, "Now, why are you listening to those rumors? Whether true or false, it doesn’t concern us or our cause. We need to stay focused, Hyo."

Amongst sniffles, Chaewon chuckles, "I appreciate the offer, but it's okay; we need to make them think we are still aligned with them for the time being.”

At this, Somin looks down at Chaewon with a motherly, proud smile as she kisses the top of her head, and they all head out before curfew is enacted.

Back at Y/N's home shop, she is just finishing her morning routine, getting dressed, and trying to make a game plan for the current list of orders when she hears the bell ring that someone has entered.

Huffing in annoyance, she heads to the front. "I thought I told Huyang to leave the sign off today. Oh well, maybe someone is just lost, and I can get them out quickly,” she mutters.

When she sees who entered the shop, she turns on her heel to walk away, saying, "Look, I have had enough run-ins with you and your gang for a lifetime, so please let me work in peace. Between your elevator ambush, your slightly creepy leader randomly dropping in to apologize for the prior event and slightly offering to work together, then that Winter chick tracking me down, burning my shop, and trying to kill me, I’m all Sithed out, sorry.”

His eyes widen as he pieces together what he has just been told with the argument he heard before leaving. Immediately, he is filled with rage and is concerned for you more than he should be.

Sadly, he doesn’t have time to waste with silly ponderings right now. “Look, I can only speak on my actions, and I apologize if I annoyed you; I was just trying to have a little fun,” he says as his signature shit-eating grin spreads across his face.

He switches modes when he realizes the extent to which you are in no mood for his usual antics. "Okay, look, seriously, I need your help."

You cackle for 2 minutes straight, "Wait, so your crew pesters and threatens me for the last 24 hours, including your insults yesterday, and you think I’ll help you? Get lost.”

Your foot is almost across the threshold of the next room when he says, “You’re right. You can refuse service to anyone. I would, too, if I were you, but I have an offer. I need you to check out and possibly replace my kyber crystal. In exchange, I will pay double your normal service charge to help show you that I am serious about my apology and for information about what happened last night. Do we have a deal?”.

Shocked doesn’t cover how you feel now, “Hold on a minute. Why do you want information about your buddy’s attack? Wouldn’t you just ask them?”

Woo sighs, “ I would, but she is quite emotional right now, and I want the truth. She acted outside of Honjoong’s permission and wounded the integrity of our organization, which, as you know, is already being threatened. She will not know that I know anything or that I got the details from you. The intel will go straight from you to me, then to Hongjoong, who can concoct a story of how he learned about the specifics.”

For once, you can see genuine sincerity in his eyes and give a nod of approval, showing that you understand everything and agree to his terms.

Moving into the connected workshop structure, he sits and watches as you run diagnostic tests on his saber.

After about 15 minutes of this, you start dismantling it in silence so you can replace the crystal that looks like it got jostled by falling off his bedside table or something.

Suddenly, you break the silence. “Wanna know why what you said in the elevator hit such a nerve? Well, even if you don’t too bad. If you can just speak your mind whenever so can I."

Looking taken aback yet endeared at your spunk, he extends his hand in a go-ahead motion.

You continue explaining, "I built this business with my mentor's help after not being taken seriously for 5 years. Just having moved into the city, having no official training, and being a human woman made for an extremely steep uphill climb to where I am now. It was nothing new after a lifetime of having no parents and fending for myself, but there is only so much a person can take. One day, Huyang found me in an alley, about to inject myself with an instant death serum I bought from this shady tent because there was no more hope in my soul. He didn’t realize what it was until he fed me, and I broke down and told him my whole life story.”

Finishing up the saber, you drank some water and proceeded, “I won’t bore you with that, don’t worry. The main point is that after being abandoned and abused multiple times by so-called friends and family alike, I learned I can only depend on myself and, eventually, Huyang. I then put these silver streaks in my hair to remind myself that there is always light in the darkness; the same is true with most people, even those on the Sith side. The way I look at it, they are just misunderstood, and if their methods changed, they would be more respected and less feared.”

Laughing, you realize, “As far as core values go, the Sith is less corrupt than the Council at this point. Your leaders apologize and are protective; you all seem roughly the same rank. On the other hand, the Council likes to pretend to be more open-minded because it has a diverse membership and cares about the people. Yeah right. They overtax and overwork their citizens, who are practically slaves just so they can live posh, secure lives while the rest of us are dying from a myriad of terrible factors. A few secret friends and I in the Council are trying to gather support to overthrow those who have let greed poison them, but who knows if success will happen in my lifetime...”

Realizing you have been rambling for a while now, you feel self-conscious and hurriedly recount the run-in with Winter and tell him which shop was damaged. Thanking him for his time, you rush him out as questions bombard you.

Why did you open up so much to him? That isn’t like you... must still be off from yesterday. That must be it. Yeah. By busying yourself with other orders, you try to forget about your lapse in fortress status.

As Wooyoung stands outside your shop with a newly repaired saber and the old crystal in his pouch, which is special as it was his first, he has much to think about on the way home, more like the burned shop.

Too much is on his mind, and he can use the longer time away as evidence that he didn’t go to your shop so Winter doesn’t get suspicious when Joong has more details about the event later.

Woo is confused on several fronts as he talks to himself throughout his trek, “Why would anyone hurt her? Wait, why do I care? Why would she tell me about her past? It must be a trick to try to protect herself. Is she that type, though? Whatever, I don’t care.”

The last point is immediately disproven upon seeing the damage that Winter caused to the shop. Instinctively, he starts cleaning up the area and making mental notes of supplies to bring next time to fix up the place.

After about 2 hours, he starts heading back, and his inner turmoil has only heightened. He shouldn’t care, so why does he? I mean, you made some excellent points. But he is also under orders to kill you...decisions must be made.

Once dusk hits, you start tidying up the shop, content with the work you got done today (and yes, still repressing the swirl of thoughts from earlier).

Huyang enters with fresh meals he bought from the market nearby. You can both rest and enjoy easy food after the stressful last couple of days.

During the meal, you confide in Huyang about what happened earlier, and he is eerily silent. Not able to take it, after about 5 minutes, you shout, "What?! Just talk, damn... it’s weird when you’re quiet.”

 Clearing his throat, he says, “Apologies, ma’am, I just don’t think you want to hear my notes on this situation as they are similar to the last run-in you had with this Wooyoung. It is admirable that he repented and was able to be sincere with you. As for you, you already know the truth deep down and don’t want to admit it. That is all I shall say”.

Rolling your eyes, you just get up and go to your bedroom as Huyang chuckles to himself.

Unable to sleep due to the mixed emotions, countless questions, and thoughts, you decide to check out your shop at dawn to assess the damage.

 It is evident that someone else has been there as soon as you arrive. All of the lesser damaged items are in one corner, and it looks.... swept. You shrug and are happy that good people exist; they could have easily robbed you, but everything is accounted for despite its state.

Wooyoung, on the other hand, had a restful night’s sleep. Being physically exhausted and pleased that Winter got scolded more due to the intel he gave Hongjoong made him pass out as soon as he lay down.

Unfortunately, he was awoken in the middle of the night. Winter was knelt by his bed, blocking his saber, shaking him awake, “Woo, I cannot sleep. Can I sleep with you instead?.”

Smiling, he rolls onto his side, facing her, and says, “Sure, c’mon in, babe.”

As soon as she is settled in, he opens his eyes and pushes her onto the floor. Yelping with tears in her eyes, she says, “Why did you say sure and call me babe just to do that?!”

Startled fully awake by her screams, Wooyoung realizes what he has done.

In truth, he was dreaming about you too domestically, and in dreamland, her request was presented as yours.

So, when he was met with Winter in reality, he was appalled not only by her presence so close to him but also anxious about the contents of the dream.

He cannot tell her that, though, so he crafts a half lie; “Oh, um, sorry, I was having a dream about this babe I met at the cantina today while I was getting my saber fixed. Go back to your own room, petulant child.”

Whimpering, she refuses, “NO! I am not a child, and I will not be treated like one anymore, not by you especially. Can’t you see how perfect we would be together? Much better than Joong and Y/N; it is so pathetic.”

At the mention of you, Woo bolts upright, “What do you mean?” Winter is confused by his sudden interest. Nevertheless, she explains, “Well, Joong went to Y/N yesterday and plans to go alone tomorrow, too. It seems like he likes her, but, knowing him, he is probably just toying with her.”

Pondering her words, Wooyoung says, “That is his business, and we should not pay any attention to anything he does not discuss with us. Now go to your own room and sleep or not, I do not care, but goodbye.”

As he turns towards the wall, he cannot help but feel a stab of jealousy at this latest information.

Winter goes to her room, kicking herself for being vulnerable yet again, but damnit, she needed a win. Multiple scoldings by Hongjoong lately, along with neither of her crushes giving her the time of day, has her dejected.

She decides to go into an intense isolation period, claiming it is “that time of the month” to ward off Joong and Woo and to get out of doing fieldwork.

The following day, Wooyoung broaches what Winter told him with his leader. "Sir, I have a question: is what she said true? I told her to keep her nose out of your business, but as your second in command, I feel I should know what is going on to aid however I can if needed.”

Shocked at the initiative, Hongjoong smiles, “Thank you for putting her in her place, and I agree. For Bibi's will to be done, there must be nothing but honesty between us. While I admire Miss Y/N’s tenacity, and she is fairly easy on the eyes, I would not be so foolish as to let animal instinct take over. She is merely a pawn in this game, nothing else. Both you and Winter tend to lack professionalism, so I meet up alone to speed up the process.”

Satisfied with his answer, Hongjoong excuses himself from the table and prepares to meet up with Y/N.

Wooyoung waits until Hongjoong is gone to leave for the burned shop and continue making repairs, feeling thankful yet insulted.

Huyang let you sleep in as you caught up on most of the orders yesterday. You awoke with lunch by your bed with a note that he would hang flyers and for you to take it easy today.

Naturally, you ate and paid no mind to the resting part as you wanted to fix your shop more.

About 2 miles from your shop, you see a familiar figure approaching you, but it can't be... it is Wooyoung!

Sadly, there is nowhere to hide from him, so you continue strutting in his direction, acting like his presence is unnoticed.

The moment he gets close to you, anxiety radiates off of him as he tries to make small talk and turns around to walk with you. “What are you doing in the middle of nowhere alone? That is dangerous.” He says.

You scoff, “Since when does the Sith care about the life of a lowly sabersmith? And I can handle myself, thank you very much. The better question is, what are you doing out here? Miss me already?.”

Silence and a heated smirk are all you are met with until you trip him and hold your lilac-hued saber to his throat, “Did you fuck with my shop more? I swear I will slit your throat right now, and you will not like it..”

Attempting to scooch away on his back, he pleads with you, “NO, no, I swear, I did not mess up your shop. I was just.. uh... scouting the area to make sure no defectors from the Sith were in hiding.”

Mainly convinced by his story, you sheath your saber and help him to his feet. He nods and says he has to be on his way but decides not to tell you that Hongjoong is on his way to meet up with you.

It is childish, he admits, but something in him likes that he got to see you today, and Joong did not.

You feel played as soon as you step into your shop; he most definitely fucked with your shop but in a positive way.

It is even cleaner than last time, and repairs are obviously underway. You pin that for the next time you see him and try to focus on the work ahead.

Wooyoung returns to headquarters to hear the sound of things being thrown and screaming; he rushes inside, worried they are under attack, only to find Hongjoong as the source of the cacophony.

Hearing the door close, Joong pauses and half turns around with a crazed look while grinning like a rabid dog. Seeing it is Wooyoung, he starts venting, "Can you believe it? She has the nerve to not respond to my attempts at communication and then stand me up at her own shop?! Does she not realize how much I could fuck up or enhance her life depending on how she plays my game? How could she not want to see me? I am charming, handsome, mysterious; everything a spunky bitch like her would want. That is fine. I will show her what happens when you reject the mighty Hongjoong!”

Before Woo can react, Joong storms into his chambers to plot against Y/N. Just a pawn...sure, Wooyoung thinks to himself.

Wanting to test his newly fixed saber, he heads to the practice room to self-spar. Engrossed in the improvements you made and the scenarios played by the holograms for practice, he only notices Winter watching from the doorway when he trips over his foot and falls.

For once, she is calm as he asks, “H-how long have you been standing there?!” “Oh, only a few minutes, but that’s all I needed to bring you down,” she replies.

Confusion colors his features, “What in the galaxy are you talking about now? How and why would you want to bring me down?”.

She saunters over and stands over him, displaying a newfound dominant aura. “Oh, now you are the naïve one, it seems. Firstly, a girl can only take so much rejection before she snaps and turns on those she once wanted most. Secondly, there is only one smith around here whose trademark is white kyber crystals. You are as good as dead once Joong finds out you lied to him about where you got it fixed.”

Panic evident in his eyes, Woo quickly defends, "Okay, true, that trademark is well known amongst the customers of Y/N, but that does not mean she has a monopoly on them; plenty of other shops have them in stock from time to time. Also, how are you still so childish? Oh noooo, I don’t return your crush, so you are going to vaguely threaten me? Geez, go to counseling or get laid, shit.”

Winter is semi-convinced, so she stays to practice for a bit. Meanwhile, Wooyoung exits to wash off the near-death experience and plans a trip to warn you about a potential second attack from Winter.

After Wooyoung bathes, he heads to your shop, praying Joong does not cross his path. He arrives about the same time as you, and being too tired to argue, you let him in while you hydrate and catch your breath from all the manual labor you just did.

As you rest, he warns you, “Look, Winter saw me sparring with my saber. Great work, by the way! Anyway, now it is seen as betraying the Sith by going to you. You could be in a lot of danger, and while I can’t directly protect you, I can give you a heads up at least."

Furrowing your brows, your only response is, “Why would you, though?” He deeply exhales, “ I don't even know, okay, but there is your warning. Have a good day.”

Confused and amused by his awkwardness, you say, “I will, actually. It has been productive so far, plus my efforts have finally shut down a gambling center where the money goes to the Council, so I am happy! Plus, I have even more followers of my cause!”

Turning away, he grins, happy to see you reach your goals, but that smile fades rapidly as you say, “By the way, I know you were the one who has been helping with my damaged shop. Thanks.”

He leaves since he does not know how to respond or why his motivation has been pro-you and anti-mission lately, but not without quipping, “I mean, why would I help you? But if you want to reward me for this supposed aid, you can give my biological saber lip service next time, doll.”

As he leaves with a wink, you are annoyed, not by him for once, but with yourself. That kind of remark usually elicits nausea and a desire to kill every man.

This time, you just giggle once he leaves and feel your entire body heat up at the thought. Yep, you are screwed.

The next day, after you both have very intense sexual dreams about each other, you decide to go to Tatooine. His reason is simply to attempt to distract his brain, while yours is to check on your small shop.

It is a request-only shop as it is the least trafficked area for you, but with recent events, you might as well check in while you collect more kyber crystals.

As you are about to leave, you get a surprise visit from Hongjoong; shocked and perturbed, you politely excuse yourself; "Terribly sorry, but I was just on my way out; you can come back tomorrow, though, if you'd like.” He does not like that at all and backs you into your workbench.

Displaying a devilish, darkened gaze of determination, he states, “Oh, you foolish girl. I do not want to make the trip tomorrow. I am here now, and I want you. Do you know how much business I could get you? I would even share what I collect from the Sith citizens from ‘taxes,’ aka my fun fund. Stop fighting this attraction. It’s just me, not like I am the big bad wolf darling, though I would love to eat you,” he states, smirking a couple of inches from your lips.

With his eyes closed, you take the opportunity to hit him in the head with one of your tools and run out, hopping on your speeder and quickly zooming away with tears in your eyes.

You are reeling from the encounter and frustrated that your heart wants to flee to Woo for comfort.

With Hongjoong yelling at you that nobody is ever going to love you if you do not let them in or just be grateful that a god like him designed to give you his attention, you decide against walking into the lion’s den; you stay the course to Tatooine ignoring your yearning for comfort.

After a while, you head to the local cantina to grab something refreshing to drink since you have been in the sun crystal mining for 3 hours now.

En route, you notice people fighting and pay no mind, believing it to just be a couple of drunkards squabbling over the bill. Until you get closer, that is, and find that the fighters are Wooyoung and Hongjoong!

Staying a safe distance away yet being able to hear every word of their conversation makes you worried. Yet, you know it would be foolish to get in the middle, so you stand there paralyzed.

It seems that your rejection led Joong to the desert looking for a hook-up at the bar, where he ran into Woo and immediately went on the offensive.

Hongjoong is slurring at Woo, “Why did you go to that bitch for your saber? You know she is mine! Now, you ruin my attempts to get rid of the blue balls she gave me earlier? You are dead, apprentice.”

Wooyoung retorts between defending Joong’s strikes. “First off, she is not a bitch, and she was the closest sabersmith. Secondly, blue balls are not a thing, and you would not be looking for a drunken desperate cunt to sink into if she had initiated it, so stop lying to yourself and to me.”

Hongjoong looks victorious, “HA, so you admit going to her! For once, Winter was the good pupil. Maybe I will send the signal for her to attack Y/N while you are busy here..since you cannot even kill her like you were ordered."

Too worried about you, Woo freezes for a split second, which is enough for Joong to pull out his dagger and slice Wooyoung’s right cheek and left shoulder.

Right after, Joong hears a speeder and does not want witnesses, so he runs away; thank goodness your idea worked.

Helping Wooyoung onto your speeder, you head to your shop. It is not an ideal reason to head over there, but you were already planning on checking on it, so oh well.

Upon arrival, you help support him off the bike as he got beat up quite a beat; laying him on the bed in the back of the shop, you start taking off his robe to assess the wound.

Always a smartass, he smirks, and then he is screeching for dear life. He stares at your attempt at stifling a laugh, "Hey, don’t look so pleased.” You snort, “Sorry, just nice to see you are human sometimes.”

He pouts and turns away, forgetting his cheek is sliced too, so he turns back, defeated, towards you while you tend to his wounds and wrap up his shoulder.

You hate to admit it, but damn, his body looks even better than you thought; no, you scold yourself, not the place or time.

You change the subject, "So why can't you kill me? Or was he drunk?". Still on edge, he barks, "I don't even know, okay?! I warn you; I fix your shop secretly; I duel my master to defend your honor. It is all worth it, but-“

You interrupt. “You don't need to get hurt for me, though, idiot.” He grins. “I know I don’t have to, but I do, and I’m not sure why, but I want to help your cause and think it’s a great thing you’re doing and-“

This time, you interrupt him with a kiss that immediately gets returned. Pulling away, you apologize, “Sorry, but I had to stop your nonsense. I think I know why you do the things you do. It’s the same reason I helped you today, and don’t mind your drop-ins as much as I let on.”

He raises an eyebrow, asking why, to which you lean in close to him again and whisper in his ear, “Because we want each other badly but are scared of being that close and getting hurt.”

Sitting up, you blush. “I mean, maybe it’s just me, but it feels like we are very similar and fated in a way; just tell me if I –“

He stops you with a hungry kiss, supporting himself with his good arm, cradling the back of your head with his left hand as his tongue explores your mouth.

Your boldness peeks through as you lightly suck his tongue and let your hands gently trail down his abs and palm his covered, very strained bulge.

He groans into your mouth as he snakes his hand under your tunic and palms your voluptuous breasts in response, rolling your hardening nipples between his fingers.

This does not last long before his skilled tongue is swirling the buds and sucking on your tits, bringing you to ecstasy quicker than expected.

Sitting up as much as he can, you remove the rest of both of your clothes and straddle him, both of your sweat mixing in an intoxicating concoction of desire and safety in each other as your hands roam all over each other, passionately making out and making up for lost time.

You feel him grow beneath you, and with remarkable quickness, you shimmy down and lick the slit of his leaking tip for a moment or two before engulfing his thickness down your throat with ease earning you a nonverbal good job on the cheek with his veiny hands.

As he approaches his climax, he pulls you up by your hair, your lips releasing him with a pop and gestures for you to kiss him.

He gazes hungrily into your eyes, “I need to be inside of you, Y/N god, like right now.” You look sideways and reveal, “I want that too, but I, um, well... you would be my first. Can we go slow?"

His energy softens as he caresses your face, tucking your hair behind your ear. “Of course, baby, I simply want to be closer to you.”

Nodding, you line yourself up and sink onto him slowly. It hurts a bit at first, but you quickly adjust to the sting, and it feels sinfully good to have your aching cunt being filled by him finally.

The shop is consumed with the sound of your delicious moans and skin coming together more and more rapidly until you are about to reach your high.

Wooyoung can tell you are close to your release and reaches down to play with your clit, “C'mon love, make a mess on me, princess” At his words, your body reacts by cumming so many times you lose count.

With his help, you ride out your high for about 10 minutes as you feel his heat fill you up three times before you both slump over in exhaustive bliss.

Over the next few days, you stay in that shop talking about everything, and he officially decides to join your cause and recant his Sith ways.

You reveal that you chose his kyber crystal on purpose because you saw the light in him. He tears up and hugs you tightly, "I know it's soon, but I love you, my moth."

You kiss him, saying you love him as well, and have for a while through light sobs.

You both return to Coruscant after going to a nearby hair studio for a change of pace.

He adds blonde streaks to his black hair to remind himself of the light inside and has his old crystal fashioned into a necklace to remind him of where he has been and that he has changed.

 You, however, exchange your silver-streaked hair for more of a rust color to match the sentiment of his crystal, promising to keep each other in check and make sure no corruption enters your hearts.

Back at the Council, you, along with Somin, Jihyo, Chaewon, and Wooyoung, expose the corrupt members despite Masters Moonbyul and Jongseob trying to rationalize their actions but failing as they all get carted away to the highest security prison.

Later that day, the secretly good trio became the new faces of the Council and immediately threw a celebration for the city's people, returning all the money that had been wrongly collected.

You and Wooyoung, of course, attend in support. As you are about to steal a kiss, you notice a familiar pair of beady eyes peek behind a pillar.

But now, they are filled with pride and wonder instead of obsession. “What did you see?” Wooyoung asks; you smile and say, “Oh, an old friend, they are shy now but are doing better, I can tell, and I’m happy for them.”

He kisses you, and you lean your head on his shoulder, relishing in this beautiful life you have built for yourself and glad Huyang was right. It is true what they say: if you allow it, change will happen for the better.

[yo-snap]

Hi, idk how to format fanfiction here. THIS IS FANFICTION!!!

Fandom: WALL-E (2008)

Title: Gender

Characters: M-O, WALL-E, AUTO, EVE, GO-2 (a GO-4 oc)

Rating: Everyone Language: English Word Count: 2,976 (excluding notes)

[A/N: I thought you tumblrinas would read this. It has a GO-4 fancharacter that i call "GO-2 (GO-4 Unit 2)" he's a robot doctor, and AUTO is that cringe ass version i posted whenever ago.

Some people like talking about gender. I don't. But it's something that comes up with robots a lot I WONDER WHY. (It's because all robots are QUEER, and denial of that is bigotry.) Anyway, here we go w the WALL-E squad bc i said so. Might be a little rambly. Spoilers: you might not like what i have to say.

TW/CW: i don't care about your feelings, INTERPRETATIONS!!!! gender stuff, lgbt+ stuff (implied), talking w friends, personal questions/feelings, misgendering??? (not really), surprise, walking in on someone, computer repairs (mentioned), meeting friends, running off, i don't mention who is talking every single time so don't hang on things]

“I'm just a little fella.”

“You're just a little guy.”

“I'm like just a little guy.”

“You're a little fella guy.”

“I'm just a little fella guy.”

AUTO turned to the two cubic robots that were talking. They seemed to be having a deep conversation.

“I'm like just the littlest fella.”

“You're the littlest fella that i know.”

“I'm like a pretty little fella.”

“You're like small.”

“I'm like a small guy.”

“Like a little fella of sorts.”

“I'm like a little fella, right???”

WALL-E nodded. “You're like a little fella.”

“Like a little guy, right???”

“Are you a guy, M-O???” AUTO couldn't keep quiet anymore.

“Huh???” They both turned to him.

“Are you a ‘guy?’ Do you consider yourself masculine???”

“‘Masculine???’ What do you mean???”

“You mean like a man, right? A male human???” WALL-E was somewhat familiar with the concept.

“Correct. Do you relate yourself personally to men???”

M-O thought. “Huh. I guess i never thought about that.” He considered. “Um… I'm gonna say ‘no,’ not really.”

“I see.”

“I think you're a little guy, but i don't think you're very male-like, M-O.”

AUTO beeped. “I would be inclined to agree. I would not consider you very masculine from an outside perspective.”

M-O considered. “But i'm still like a little guy, right???”

AUTO paused and made another tone. “Affirmative, you are just a little guy. A little fella. Small.”

“Thank you.”

“You know, i don't think i've ever thought about that myself either.” They looked at him. “I mean, i know that men and women are different. I know it's an important thing for them. But i never really gave any thought to which side i relate myself more to.”

“Have you not?”

“Nah, not really. I might relate to a character in a movie or something, but them being either male or female didn't really affect how i saw them.” He tapped his eyepiece. “I guess maybe i'm a little more masculine, since the characters that i relate to more are usually men… Or, well, at the same time, i do have a lot of women characters that i relate to, too. Hmm. I don't know!”

AUTO made a tone. “Do you think you are similar to both? Or to neither???”

He was thinking. He seemed to be struggling, as he grumbled a bit. “I-i'm sorry, what??? What's the difference?”

“Pardon. I mean to say, do you believe that they are both similar to how you see yourself? Or, do you believe that they are both different???”

“Uh…” He still wasn't understanding. “I don't know! I guess both???”

“Both what???” M-O asked, also bamboozled by the question.

“I don't know!!!”

“I apologize. I suppose the question is a bit unclear. I do not know how to say what i mean.”

WALL-E continued to think. “I guess i'm kind of masculine. And i guess i'm kind of… what's the other one? ‘Feminine???’” AUTO nodded. “And i guess i'm also kind of neither of those. I'm kind of…”

“You're kind of a silly guy.”

“Affirmative, he is just a silly guy.”

He had been trying to phrase it, but they distracted him. “Um… sure. Yeah… Thanks.”

“I believe that i understand what you are trying to say, WALL-E. It can be a very difficult thing to define. Do you find that your opinion of it changes at times???”

WALL-E considered. “Yeah. Yeah, i guess. Kind of.” He nodded. “Sure. It changes.”

AUTO nodded. “I understand. That makes sense. I have often found you difficult to classify in those regards as well. I cannot say that you are more similar to one than the other, and i cannot always say that you are similar to either of those.”

“What about me, AUTO? Am i ‘feminine???’” M-O bounced for attention.

AUTO studied him for a moment. “Not very. Perhaps in some regards, you are more feminine than masculine: as cleanliness is typically more associated with women than men. But i would not say that you are very feminine at all.”

“I think you're a good balance, M-O. You're no more feminine than you are masculine, at least to me.”

“But how do you perceive yourself??? Your opinion of yourself is the most important.”

M-O shook his head. “I don't relate more to women than i do men. I think you're both right about me. I like being neither.”

AUTO nodded. “That makes sense. I am happy that you are comfortable.”

“Well, what about you, AUTO??? How do you see yourself???” WALL-E cocked his head.

“I find the perception of myself somewhat similar to both of you. Most times, i do not consider myself either masculine or feminine. But other times, i consider myself feminine.”

WALL-E made a shocked tone. “Whoa, really??!! You consider yourself feminine?!”

AUTO felt awkward. “Yeees… Is that surprising???”

WALL-E fidgeted. “W-well… yeah, a little. I didn't usually see you as either, but i would have said you were slightly more masculine than you are feminine.”

“I understand why you say that. My voice chip is rather low, which is a masculine trait. And i suppose that first encounters are important for how you perceive somebody. I may have come across as more masculine when we first met. Is that your opinion???”

“Y-yeah, i guess that has something to do with it.” He glanced away. “Um, i'm sorry, i didn't mean to make this awkward.”

“There is no need to apologize. I appreciate your input. Would you like to know why i consider myself more feminine???” WALL-E nodded, and M-O beeped in the affirmative.

“The AUTOPILOTs are each essentially part of a triad. There is us, and there is the onboard computer, and there is the ship. The onboard computer was given a feminine voice, much more human in intonation than mine is. Many of her dialog options were recorded at one time by a human woman. She was given the ability to synthesize new words using the phonemes, er, rather, the sounds of the languages with which she was installed. She can answer questions and relay various items from her library, but she is not quite the same variety of AI that we are.

“The ships are considered feminine. Humans have almost always referred to ships as feminine, out of tradition. To my knowledge, it is in relation to the safety and protection provided by a mother or a goddess, or sometimes it is in accordance with the idea of ‘Mother Nature.’” He glanced down at a very confused M-O. “Um… they just refer to vessels as feminine.”

“Okay. And since you're part of the three, you consider yourself feminine, too???” WALL-E was following along.

“Correct. Not always, but on occasion. I feel it would be a bit silly not to. I believe that i have some traditionally feminine traits, such as the concern that i have for the safety of my passengers and robots. I am very diligent in reviewing the information that the computer provides and making adjustments as necessary in order to maintain their safety. I also try my best to accommodate my captains and remind them of their personal needs. I believe that i am sometimes somewhat motherly, which is typically the most feminine that an individual can be.” He thought. “But i suppose those traits could be seen as fatherly as well, depending on inflection or interpretation.”

“I think that might have been what it was for me. Sorry for misinterpreting you.” WALL-E made an apologetic tone.

“That is quite alright. I believe many of my captains have interpreted that as well. Most have used only masculine pronouns when referring to me. I do not mind. I wonder how i would feel if i had been referred to with feminine pronouns.” He tapped his face.

“I always thought you were neither, AUTO. You're too smart to be compared to a human.”

He made a tone. “Thank you, M-O.” He reached down and pet the top of M-O’s head, making him wiggle and chirp happily.

WALL-E made a delighted tone. “I wonder what Eva would say. I don’t think i’ve ever asked her what she thinks.”

“Do you think she’s done with her tune up yet???”

“Inconclusive. Let us ask.” AUTO floated over to the console that connected to the various areas of the ship and put the line through to the repair ward. They could see the video feed on the screen, and it showed GO-2 working on Eva’s body compartment. The three of them made embarrassed and flustered tones, and the two robots on the other end looked over at the camera. “Apologies!!! I did not intend to disrupt!”

GO-2 and Eva glanced at one another, and he floated between her and the camera. “It is no issue. May i help you with something, AUTO???”

“Oh, nothing important. We were just curious as to the estimated time at which Eva's tune up will be complete.” The others were chattering in the background.

GO-2 considered for a moment. “I believe we are almost finished. We should be roughly completed by the time WALL-E and M-O arrive here, if they intend to meet Eva.”

“Ooh, really???” WALL-E glanced at the screen again after being too embarrassed to look.

“Affirmative. We will not be much longer.”

M-o beeped. “Oh, yeah, let's go meet her!”

“Thank you, GO-2. End transmission.”

GO-2 saluted at the camera, and AUTO turned off the line. He turned to his friends. “You are leaving now???”

“In a minute. Do you wanna come with us, AUTO???”

AUTO thought about it. “I am unsure. I do not want Eva to be upset with me.”

“Oh, you worry too much! We'll just tell her that we bugged you until you connected to the ward.” M-O pat AUTO's arm to comfort him.

“We'll always take the blame when Eva's mad at you, AUTO!”

He made a low tone. “Thank you, WALL-E. But i highly doubt the effectiveness of your efforts.”

The three of them made their way towards the repair bay. They didn't have a MVR with them, so it took them a bit longer; and M-O latched onto WALL-E after a little while ‘to not slow them down.’ The others knew that wasn't why he did it, but they would have both admitted to wanting to carry him in their hands if they were asked. M-O didn't want them to fight about it.

They entered to see Eva waiting around after her repairs were completed. It must have been just before they got there, as GO-2 was still updating her repair log. He inputted the last bit of info and hurried over to see his friends. “Hello all! How are you today???”

M-O zipped over to circle around Eva. He beeped happily and circled around GO-2 as well. “Hiii GO-2!!!”

WALL-E rolled up beside Eva and they both reached to hold hands. “Hi GO-2! We're good, how are you???”

“I am well, thank you. It is always a pleasure to work on Eva.”

“It's a pleasure to be here, GO-2!” Eva made a bright tone.

“I must apologize, Eva. I sincerely did not mean to invade your privacy as i did.” AUTO made a low tone and cautiously hovered toward GO-2.

WALL-E beeped quickly. “Uh, it was my idea, Eva! We thought you were almost done.”

“Uh, yeah, i was the one that said that. Heheh, i guess i got my timing off. Sorry.” 

She rolled her eyes. “It's fine, guys. We're all robots here.”

“Oh yeah, that's why we all came down here!” M-O rolled between GO-2 and Eva. “AUTO asked us about how we think about ourselves! Like if we're more similar to men or women.” He beeped. “I said that i was neither. WALL-E said that he was both and also neither. And he was really surprised by what AUTO said about himself!”

“Okay!!! But to be fair, you guys have all known him a lot longer than i have!!!”

That made Eva curious. “What did he say???”

“That he believes that he is somewhat feminine???”

“You knew that, GO-2???!!!” This was still an intense point for WALL-E.

He made a tone. “Of course. I am a sort of psychiatrist as well as a regular doctor to our robots. We have talked about this at length.”

“GO-2 was the first person that i told. I additionally simply trusted him as a friend.” AUTO put his hand on GO-2's back.

“Wait, what does ‘feminine’ mean???” Eva cocked her head.

“It's like a woman. ‘Masculine’ is like a man.” M-O wanted to make sure he still understood, and was satisfied that no one corrected him.

“Oh.” She processed. “So AUTO is like a woman???”

“W-well, partially. I typically see myself as neither masculine nor feminine.”

Eva thought for a moment. “I guess that makes sense.”

“How do you see yourself, Eva???”

She glanced at WALL-E. “I think it makes sense to be neither. I don't think i'm more like women than i am man. And i don't think i'm like men very much at all.” She beeped. “I guess i'd have to think about it.”

“Well– can i tell you what i think???” WALL-E wanted to share.

“Um, sure.”

“Okay, so when i first saw you, i thought you were beautiful. Gorgeous. Completely amazing. I was astounded. I couldn't believe my optics. You were incredible. You–”

“Yes, WALL-E, we know how you felt.” All of them, especially Eva, had heard WALL-E's first impression of her a hundred times before.

He made an awkward tone. “Er, w-well, i thought you were a little bit masculine in appearance. Like in shape, anyway. You were kind of like… like a triangle???” He put his hands together to demonstrate the upside-down shape that he meant. “Which is like a man. And especially with the ion rifle. I thought you were like an action hero, which are usually men.

“But then i saw you up close, and i heard your cute little giggle, and i wasn't sure anymore! And then we actually met, and your voice was so sweet and beautiful and wonderful, and i thought it was really feminine! Aaand after that i kind of lost it again. I think you're kind of like both, and also like neither. I wonder if you and i are alike like that.”

AUTO made a quiet tone. “M-may i offer my opinion???”

She slowly turned to him and glanced him up and down. “Sssuuure.”

He tapped his fingers together nervously. “W-well, i will say concisely: i view you as more feminine than masculine. In regards to shape, you are very rounded, and i believe that you were designed to look like an upside-down egg, which are things that come from female animals. Your directive had you incubate plant samples, which can also be considered feminine, as females are almost always the ones to incubate within their bodies.

“Your voice chip is also more feminine than masculine. I like it very much. But i have to believe that you were intended to be seen as feminine completely, as you were given a name that reflects the Biblical character of the first woman. I would say that your, rather, all of the EVEs’ intention was to be feminine: but you personally are not completely feminine. I think you are you, Eva. I admire that about you.”

There was silence for a few seconds, and AUTO thought he might have said something wrong. “I also think you're just Eva. You're a round fella.” M-O wanted his opinion to be known.

“Like how you're a little fella.” She didn't say it as a question.

“Exaaaactlyyyyy.” He nodded his head and looked at everyone as if trying to convince them.

“What about you, GO-2??? Do you have an opinion about yourself???” WALL-E didn't want him to be left out.

He turned to him. “Not exactly. Not in those parameters. I suppose that i can be either feminine or masculine, depending on how i am viewed. Human doctors do not have a typical gender… or, rather, they are not typically men, nor typically women: they are both. As for how i see myself, i do not give it much thought. I am usually too busy to consider that aspect of myself. I like who i am, and do not feel that i need to label myself as either masculine or feminine.”

“Yeah, me too!” M-O chirped.

“Affirmative, i feel that way as well most times.” AUTO nodded.

“I guess i'm kind of like that too. But now i am gonna think about it, because you guys are saying that i seem feminine. Maybe i'll agree with you.” Eva still needed some time.

“I can understand that. But i also want to think that i could be either. I wonder what it would be like to be a man or a woman.” WALL-E tapped his eyepiece.

“Well, whatever it's like, i'm sure it's not as fun as this!” Eva took off out of the repait ward, giggling and looking back as she did.

“Eva!!!” WALL-E called after her and dashed to follow.

“Oh, i'll catch you guys later! See ya!!!!” M-O sped off as fast as he could. “Hey guys, wait up!!! I'M JUST A LITTLE FELLA!!!”

AUTO and GO-2 watched them leave. They were both glad to see that they were so happy.

“You know, AUTO…” He turned to look at GO-2. “I could always try to adjust your voice chip. Perhaps i could help you sound more feminine. If you would like that.”

He made a tone. “Thank you for the offer, GO-2. But i am content with my voice as it is currently. It is how i have always sounded, and that voice matches me now. But thank you for offering again. I always appreciate it.” He affectionately pet GO-2 on his siren, and GO-2 made a satisfied tone.

[Post a/n: check under your chairs, i lost the ending again. Oops.

Heeeyy, there you go. THEY'RE QUEER! And i don't care if you don't agree. To clarify: M-O is gender neutral, WALL-E is genderfluid, AUTO is demifemme/gender neutral, Eva is questioning nonbinary, and GO-2 is agender. They use the pronouns that i used here. That's my version. Peace sign.

This is cross-posted on FFN and AO3 under the title "GO-4 It!!!"]

[yeehawbvby]

Falling Away With You | Ch. 34

Sebastian x F!Reader and M. Rasmodius x F!Reader

Rating: Mature/Explicit

Chapter Summary: You and Sebastian go on a date! You two mingle with some new and old friends, play some games, and adopt a son.

Author’s Note: Thanks to TheLastSaskPirate on ao3 for giving me the idea to add the fortune teller from TV into the story :D I’d love to hear your thoughts on her/the chapter overall!

Hope you enjoy, and take care x

Table of Contents + Work Summary

Check it out on ao3!

Prev | Next

Never having been to the desert, I’m amazed as we drive on Seb’s bike through Calico. There’s sand and dunes for miles upon miles, practically glistening under the moonlight. A pretty reminder that all sand is, is ground up minerals. 

The air is cool and stilled without the sun beating down. Not even many bugs around to liven up the atmosphere. The only semblance of life are the occasional merchants that line the road. Oasis – a large and very pink shop appropriately placed next to what looks like the most botanic and serene body of water you could ever come across in a fucking desert – wasn’t far from the tunnel connecting the countryside to here. 

There are a few cute traders set up as well. All of them are in carriages of sorts, with some type of animal loyally ready to pull when need be: Plenty of camels, a few horses, and some boars scattered into the mix. Takes every ounce of restraint in my body to not ask Seb to stop so I can go pet them all. I hope there are animals at the main event.

The Calico Night Market takes place on a plot of land that seems like it would be barren normally, much like the rest of the desert. There’s a roped-off area for people to park their vehicles on one side of the highway, while on the other is the bustle of tourists and passersby alike funneling in and out of the event.

At the entrance is a large black pergola, with vivid purple wisteria hanging between the bulbous lights strung across it. On either side are huge screens — the type you’d use to divide a room, when walls aren’t available — to hide everything from the outside. Once you pass through, the market has the energy and layout of a Gotoroan festival – or, at least like the ones you see in anime. Despite that, it still maintains the mysterious aesthetic I recall a Pelican Town Night Market having when I went as a child.

On-edge due to the amount of people here, I cling to Seb’s side. He slides a comforting arm through my own as we slowly walk past the tents and stalls, taking in everything this market has to offer. 

“You doing alright?” he leans down slightly to whisper in my ear.

I nod, smiling up at him. “Too many people, but it’s cool to see all this.” I look around a bit again, continuing, “I’m sure I’ll feel better once we actually, like, do something.” 

“I gotcha,” he agrees. “Why don’t we go play some games? I think I see some tents set up for it down that way.” Seb nods in the direction he’s describing, but I can’t see it for myself over the crowd. 

“Fuck yeah.” As we’re making our way to the new destination, I feel an ethereal tug. It’s a similar feeling to when I would first approach Magnus’ tower. “W-wait a sec.” 

We slow to a halt, so as to not knock anyone into us. “What’s up?” 

Not knowing how to explain myself, I peer around, trying to figure out where the aura is coming from first. I wonder if this is what Magnus means, when he says he can sense arcane energies… following the buzz that’s rattling my brain, my eyes land on a fortune teller’s tent. 

Huh.

“Can we check that out?” I ask Seb, pointing towards the psychic.

He shrugs. “Yeah, I don’t see why not.” He tilts his head. “I didn’t know you were into that kinda thing.”

I shake my head. With the hand that’s fidgeting with his sleeve against his bicep, I tighten my grip on the cloth. “Sorry to get all magicky right now, but I think whoever’s in there is trying to lure me over.” My brows furrow as I look up at Seb briefly. “I could be wrong, but I dunno. If it’s something important, I don’t wanna bail on them.”

Nodding, Seb responds, “No worries, do what you gotta do.” He grins at me. “It’s kinda sick that you’re getting so much more… in-tune with this stuff, if that’s the right phrasing.”

“Right?” I laugh. “It’s still surreal as fuck, but it makes me feel badass.”

As we near the stall, the fortune teller locks eyes with me. Agh. Making me feel weird. 

“Do you feel okay being involved, or do you wanna, like… I dunno. Wait somewhere, maybe…?” After a deep breath and some thought, Seb winces, “I’ll just check out the stuff nearby, if that’s okay with you.” 

I kinda wanted him to stay with me – I really have the heebie-jeebies, right now – but I’d rather not put him through anything he’s not keen on. “Okay,” I nod, offering a reassuring grin. “I’ll come find ya when I’m done.”

I leave a kiss on Seb’s knuckles, as he plants one against the crown of my head. Then, we depart.

I slow my stride as I approach the tent. Before I can speak, the psychic – I feel like I recognize her from somewhere – verbally observes, “I see you’re more harmonious with the elements than you appear, young mage.” 

Oh god. Straight to the point, huh?

“Uh–”

“Forgive me.” She smiles softly. Due to her blue, hooded cloak, all that’s visible of the woman’s face is her mouth. “It is rare for me to meet my kin so spontaneously. I find it quite difficult not to be enthusiastic at such an opportunity!”

“O-okay,” I stutter, sill recovering from having been fucking flashbanged by her. “Did you bring me here for a reason?” I hope that didn’t come out as rude as it felt like it might have.

Seemingly unbothered, she holds out her hands for me to take, nodding. I look back and forth between what’s visible of her face and her hands before cautiously placing my palms on hers.

“My name is Welwick, if you are not familiar already,” she explains, her voice slightly raspy, yet soothing and sweet. “I am an old friend of your mentor, Master Rasmodius.” 

Oh? 

“Given my connection to him, I sometimes foresee tidings of his endeavors. You, young mage, hold more significance in his life than you may expect.”

I blink, not knowing how to respond. “I-I mean,” my voice hushes a bit, “if you’re referring to, like, that whole soulmate situation, I know about that already.”

She gasps. “By the spirits!” What even are the spirits? Like, gods to elementals? “No, I was unaware of that prior to our meeting.” 

As a kid holding a lit-up balloon walks by behind me, I can make out some deep wrinkles around Welwick’s endearing, yellow-toothed smile. She must be fuckin’ ancient, if she’s (most likely) an elemental and has such visible signs of age. 

“Congratulations on being connected to your partner in time. Please pass on my regards to Master Rasmodius as well, if you will!” 

Oh god, why does it sound like I just announced a proposal or some shit? I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“O-oh, thank you, sure.” I shrivel into myself. “So, what do you mean, then? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“All I can reveal is that you must make the most of your training with the young master.” So vague…

Also, she’s definitely a super old elemental. It would be too weird to refer to someone who’s hundreds – maybe thousands – of years of age as young, otherwise. 

I offer a curt nod, smiling despite the confusion. All this just to tell me to keep up the good work, basically? Whatever. “I’ll do my best.”

It seems as though Welwick is getting ready to part ways with me, but a thought comes into my head. “Uh, can I ask you something, Lady Welwick?” She seems to like formalities, but it still felt weird to tack the “lady” title onto her name.

“I cannot guarantee an answer, but of course! Anything, young one.”

“I’m, uh… I’m an oracle, too,” I mutter, my eyes lowering to our hands, “But it’s new to me, and my visions seem to only come in dreams, so I never know what’s going to be real and what’s…” I shrug, “You know, just a dream.” I look at what’s visible of the psychic’s face again before asking, “Do you have any advice on controlling that sorta thing?”

She shakes her head, and I feel my shoulders fall. “Unfortunately, the arcane is brimming with disorder. There are magically imbued artifacts that may assist one in better honing their skills, but all other aspects are merely revealed with time.”

I tilt my head as I inquire, “Where can I get something like that?” 

A deep breath releases from the woman, before she stands from her stool. Her frame barely surpasses mine with her mild hunch, standing at maybe 5’3” or so. 

“Just a moment, please.” 

Welwick turns her back to me as she shuffles around in a chest further inside her set-up. She pulls out a small wooden box, and brings it back over with her. After casting a spell of some sort on the box— maybe to unlock it?— she opens it, presenting its treasures. 

There are two necklaces, one silver and one gold. The silver one has some sort of small, bioluminescent blue gem hanging from the chain’s center. The gold accessory has a ruby in the same place, glowing as if filled with pure lava. Several rings lay in the box too, all of which resemble the ones that Magnus often wears; thick and intricate bands, each with a large mineral encased in the middle. Finally, a set of earrings made of what looks like opal and silver lay in the box as well.

“I don’t often share such relics, but any friend of Master Rasmodius is a friend of mine,” she smiles. “Feel free to claim any one of them that you please.”

“Oh!” I shake my head, waving my sleeve-mittened hands a little. “I couldn’t do that–” 

“Please, I insist, young mage.” She holds up the bioluminescent necklace before adding on, “You seemed the most drawn to this one, yes?” 

She’s right, ugh. That thing’s fucking gorgeous.

Plus, it reminds me of those cute berries Magnus grew over the summer.

“Uh… yeah, but are you sure?”

“I’d be a fool to offer such things if I wasn’t! Here,” Welwick holds out the necklace to me. “Go ahead, try it on!”

I do as she says, clasping it around my neck. Almost instantly, I feel a pulse – similar to those I experience when spellcasting – course through my veins. Whoa.

“Let me pay you for it, at least,” I offer, twirling the intricately woven pearl-or-whatever between my fingertips as I admire the way it glows against my skin.

“My only wish is that we meet again.” I look back up towards her, and she continues, “I’ll be in your orbit once once more for the Stardew Valley Fair next week. Please, stop by!”

I nod, my smile widening. “Sure, of course.” 

After closing the wooden box and placing it somewhere beneath her table, she begins her goodbye. “I’ll see you then, young mage.”

Coming to my senses, I finally offer her my name. Why didn’t I do that earlier? 

After introducing myself, awkwardly apologizing, and thanking her again, I bid the old elemental my farewell. “See you soon, Lady Welwick!”

As I turn to begin looking for Seb, I peer down at the necklace again. I tuck it into my shirt to make sure it won’t get ripped off or something. Given how easily I’ve lost jewelry in the past, I don’t think I’ll ever remove this one on purpose… would hate for my carelessness to be the reason Welwick lost something so special.

I finally spot Seb after a few minutes of weaving through the crowd. He’s talking to two girls. 

One’s roughly my height and ghostly pale, with pastel pink hair that falls in loose curls just above her shoulders. The other is an inch or two shorter, with a brown – almost black – pixie cut, and warm hazelnut skin. They’re holding hands, and their opposite fists are occupied by some street corn they must’ve just bought.

As I approach, Seb locks eyes with me and smiles. Can’t tell what he’s saying, but he nods in my direction, prompting the girls to turn around. The pink-haired one smiles at me softly, looking nervous with her natural brown eyebrows upturned. The brown-haired girl practically beams, presenting as much more extroverted. 

Fidgeting with the strap of my fanny pack, which I have draped comfortingly across my body rather than around my hips, I smile at them before returning my gaze to Seb’s.

“Welcome back, baby,” he greets me, holding out a hand for me to take. 

I promptly weave my small fingers through his larger ones, smiling up at him. Feeling shy, I can’t say much. Seeming to understand, Seb provides introductions for us. 

“This is Scarlett and Sophia.” Oh! I’ve heard of Sophia! “Scarlett and Sophia, my lovely partner (y/n).” My heart flutters at how proudly he’s presenting me. 

“It’s nice to meet you two,” I manage to squeak out. God damnit, great first impression you’re making, lady.

“Likewise!” Scarlett smiles. Her voice has a little bit of a drawl that I didn’t expect to hear. She must be from Grampleton. “I heard you’re a farmer?” 

Seb already told them about me? I blush thinking about it; both with flattery and embarrassment.

“Mhm,” I hum. “I’m still new, though.”

“I’m sure you’re doing great!” I like Scarlett. Something about how enthusiastic she is makes me feel comfy. “I’m a farmhand over in Grampleton,” she adds, “but I travel out to Pelican Town sometimes when extra help is needed.” 

“Oh, that’s cool!” 

I debate asking Sophia if she has plans to come back too, given she has a whole vineyard waiting for her should she want it; but unsure if she wants me to even have knowledge of the things I do, I opt out. “What do you do, if you don’t mind me asking?” I ask her in lieu.

“I-I’m a cosplayer, for now,” she responds shyly. Her soft voice is super pretty, but it’s incredibly hard to hear. “I model, a-and make appearances at cons, and things like that.” 

I can practically feel the way my eyes gleam thinking about it. Being a pro cosplayer sounds hard, but it’s also so fucking cool oh my god?!

The four of us talk a bit longer, and I can happily say that it seems like Sophia warmed up to me by the end of our time meeting each other. When we split up, Seb and Sophia part with a long hug after exchanging their Discords. I guess he’s closer with her than he might’ve been with Scarlett in the past; we kinda just oddly stand on the side and watch with grins on our faces. 

Mine doesn’t subside as Seb and I walk together, hand-in-hand, towards our original destination. 

“Sorry about that,” he apologizes. 

“What do you mean?” I look up at him, and he seems to visibly relax when he sees that I’m happy. “They were great!”

“I’m glad you think so,” Seb laughs, squeezing my palm. “I was worried you’d be annoyed at me for taking time away from our date to focus on other people, or whatever.” 

“That’d be very shitty of me, considering I did the same.” I lean on his shoulder for a moment, but lift myself off when I realize how uncomfy it is to do that while walking. “I’m happy you got to see Sophia again. She seems awesome.”

“Me too…” Seb sounds like he’s getting a little choked up. I look up, and the man’s eyes are glossed over a bit.

“Whoa, what’s up?” I softly wonder aloud.

He smiles, his beautifully deep orbs focused on where we’re walking. Good call. I face forward myself, scooching a tad closer to him. “I’m just… really fuckin’ glad that she’s okay. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get to talk to her again, ya know?”

I bring Sebastian’s hand up to my lips, pecking it. “After what Sam told me, I can imagine it probably feels good to know she’s doing well. I’m really happy for you.”

Ditching my hand, Seb drapes an arm around my shoulders and leaves a quick kiss on my head. “Not gonna be so happy when I kick your ass at that ring toss over there…” he mutters before fully straightening again.

I roll my eyes. “The way you can transition a conversation so easily is mind-boggling.”

“Gotta keep ya on your toes, babygirl.” Oh, that one’s new. Has me all flustered… “I’ve got a mind like a steel trap.”

“I don’t think that’s how you use that phrase—“

“I am a loose cannon.“

“Sebastian—“

I peer up just as he’s raising his opposite fingers to his lips. Placing his pointer against them, he hushes me. “Shhh.” He pets my head. Giggling, I swat his hand away from my scalp with both of mine.

When we finally approach the games, Seb and I try our hands at a few. Any that can be made into a competition becomes one. He won the ring toss, much to my chagrin, considering the shit he talked beforehand. The balloon darts worked out in his favor too. Ugh. 

I wound up beating Seb at a fake fishing game though, and winning a real fish by proxy. We had the choice between a goldfish or a betta, and knowing Cannoli is too curious for a fish to be safe in my house, the decision came down to Seb, who took the latter option. 

He chose one with beautiful, dangerous looking red scales and fins. Looks badass. He named it Gerard, after Gerard Way’s Danger Days-era hair… fuckin’ emo.

There was a conveniently placed stall selling pet supplies right next to the fish game, so we grabbed an absurdly overpriced bowl and some flakes to tide the little fella over until we can get him a bigger and filtered tank with proper food.

Not wanting to cause conflict in front of our new son (but more so being sick of the crowd), Seb and I gave up on trying to destroy each other in games. That brings us to now: we’re back at his motorcycle, sitting in the sand next to it and chatting over some coffee after having devoured a few taiyaki. 

“I didn’t really get a chance to ask, how’d your conversation with the fortune teller lady go?”

“It was, uh… it was somethin’.” I still don’t really know what to take away from it. “I think she was just excited to sense another magic-user in the crowd, more than anything. I wound up getting a cool gift out of it though!” I pull the necklace from beneath my collar, holding up the little stone for Seb to see. “Check this puppy out.”

“Oh shit,” he mumbles. “S’pretty. What’s it do?”

I shrug. “It’s imbued with potent magic, apparently. Can help me get better with controlling my visions, or some shit.”

“Does it, like… hurt?” my boyfriend asks, tilting his head. 

I laugh. “Felt a little weird at first, but it’s nothing painful.” I contemplate for a sec before offering, “Y-you wanna try it on?” 

After a short inspection, Seb nods, grinning at me. “Yeah, why not.” I take it off my neck, then secure it around his. His skin feels staticy for a moment, and we both flinch at the sensation. “Whoa, what the fuck?” he stammers.

“You alright?” 

“Yeah,” Seb reassures me, twirling the glowing gem around in his fingers similarly to how I did earlier on. “Just felt weird. I haven’t done anything like this in a long-ass time.”

“I wonder if that changes its effects at all.”

Seb shrugs, then takes the chain off and clasps it back onto me. Smirking mischievously, he says, “The thing’s probably confused, if anything… moving between so many necks in one day.”

“What a little slut, this thing is.” My voice drips with mock-disgust, as I sneer down at the jewelry. 

He takes a sip of coffee, then points at me with the same hand that’s holding the cup. “Ay, watch it (y/l/n).”

“Why? You think it’ll attack me?”

“You never know!”

“It’s alright, I can just fight it back.” I put my fists up, throwing a few air-punches Seb’s way. “I’ve got hands.” 

“Congratulations,” he mutters, before breaking into a giddy laugh. It’s contagious, and I lightly shove him by the shoulder. “Not in front of the child!” he warns, putting a protective hand near the pseudo-tupperware the fish is floating in. “We should probably get this guy home sooner than later.” 

“Yeeeah.” I sigh, frowning as I inspect the poor thing. It’s swimming in its own shit… if you can even call it’s mostly-stationary fin-flapping swimming. “I feel so bad for these little guys. Wanna take ‘em all home.”

Seb leans his head onto my shoulder. I can’t contain my smile at the simple action as I lay my cheek against his hair and wrap an arm around his shoulder, playing with his soft, raven locks. 

“At least Gerard’s got us to look forward to,” he mutters against me.

“Y’know, it’ll be a crime if we don’t decorate his tank to look like a desert, with spiders and shit.”

“I could probably get a little helmet or mask for him to hide in, too…”

“Holy shit,” I chuckle, “This fish is gonna be so rad. Our little Killjoy.”

“Hell yeah he is.” Seb picks up the container with Gerard and positions it in his lap, admiring the lil’ guy. “As long as he doesn’t croak before we get him home…”

I wince. “Fish from places like these do tend to die pretty quickly.”

“Yeah… At least we’ll be able to say we tried.”