#answers so like - i could sometimes finish two prompts or a one-shots in the time it takes me to write a full chapter

[aparticularbandit]

not as ahead on fics for this month as i'd hoped to stay - i've got something already done for tomorrow, but yesterday and today i didn't finish stuff, so i'm only that singular day ahead.

hoping to get further ahead - or at least to STAY that day ahead - but. we'll. see. ><

[atimeofyourlife]

A coffee delivery

written for @steddieholidaydrabbles prompt: coffee shop/ tattoo au | rated: t | wc: 906 | tags: coffee shop au, tattoo au, tattoo artist eddie munson, barista steve harrington, pre steddie

Steve had something of a love/hate relationship with the morning shift at the coffee shop. On one hand, it meant he didn't have to take part in the evening cleaning, and he had most of the afternoon free. But on the other hand, it meant he had to be up early and had to deal with opening and set up.  Rude customers occurred at any time of the day. In the morning it was the customers angry that they weren't willing to open thirty minutes before their scheduled time. In the evening, they were angry that they didn't stay open over an hour past their scheduled closing time. There were two main things that made up for the rude customers. Being an independent coffee shop over a chain meant they didn't have a corporate office to answer to, so the boss allowed them to talk back and deny service to any customer that was too rude. And the nice customers generally outweighed the bad ones, the ones who would tip generously, who were always polite and kind, who would stick up for them against the bad ones.

But Steve's favorite part of the job was the guy who worked in the tattoo store a few buildings down on the other side of the street. A guy named Eddie, who would come in five days a week without fail. Always ordering a large caramel latte with two extra shots. Ten, maybe fifteen minutes before the tattoo shop was due to open. His name was Eddie, and he always made the time to flirt with Steve when he picked up his coffee.

One morning, Steve was just waiting for Eddie to come in for his coffee. It had passed the normal time he would come in, and Steve felt a little worried. Eddie had, as usual, said the day before that he would be back the next day. Steve was staring out the window, on a lookout for Eddie. Unable to keep himself from getting anxious as the time ticked by. But then, about thirty minutes after Eddie would have usually walked in, Steve saw him run down the street, obviously late to open the tattoo store. He let out a sigh of relief, but couldn't help feeling disappointed that he wouldn't get to see Eddie.

"Look, if you're that upset that you don't get to see and flirt with him today, just make the coffee and take it over to him." Robin said from beside Steve. "We're not busy, and the lunchtime rush won't start for at least thirty minutes. Just don't leave me alone too long."

"Robin, you're the best." He hugged her quickly, before turning to start making the drink.

"Just write your number on it, or at least try to get a date. It's getting painful watching you both flirt everyday."

Steve ignored her, writing Eddie's name on the to go cup, and finishing the drink. He was about to walk out from behind the counter, but stopped and one of the cookies that Eddie sometimes ordered. He was nervous as he left the store and crossed the street. Unsure if this was crossing a line, or if Eddie would think Steve was stalking him.

Steve pushed open the door to the tattoo shop, and could see Eddie cleaning furiously.

"Hi, sorry. I'm running a touch late, so if-" Eddie started, trailing off as he turned around and saw Steve.

"Er, hi. You didn't come in this morning, and I saw you run past and it was obvious you were late. So I thought I would bring you coffee and a cookie?" Steve replied, holding them out to Eddie.

"Oh. Thanks, Stevie. You are a life saver. My van crapped out this morning so I had to take the bus, but it was running late, and part of the road was closed. And I had an appointment booked for opening, and I was already late. But the client hasn't shown up yet." Eddie rambled, taking the coffee and the cookie from Steve, instantly taking a drink of the coffee.

"Sounds like a real rough morning. I hope I managed to help make it a little better for you."

"You made it so much better. You are an angel among men right now."

Steve found himself getting lost in Eddie's eyes, and jumped as he heard the bell over the door signaling someone coming in.

"I've got an appointment this morning? I know I'm a bit late for it, I did try to call-" The customer said.

"Of course. I just need a few more minutes to finish setting up." Eddie replied. He placed the coffee down on a desk and grabbed a business card, scribbling something down on it, before handing it to Steve. "I'm really going to have to get on, but I'll see you around, Steve."

"Uh, yeah. I'm going to have to get back before Robin tries to kill me for taking too long." Steve waved, before leaving and heading back to the coffee shop.

"What's that?" Robin asked as soon as Steve rejoined her, her eyes focused on the card in Steve's hand.

"Eddie gave it to me." Steve replied, turning it over and looking at what Eddie had written on it for the first time. It was a phone number tagged with the words 'call me' and a smiley face. Yeah, the trip across the street had been successful.

[stvrni0lo]

𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧

chris sturniolo x reader (fluff)

summary: as you and chris hang out more and more, feelings begin to develop - and chris questions his fear of commitment

warnings/notes: kissing? but that’s about it!

requested?: yes! number 3 “hangouts that start to feel more like dates” from my actions prompt list

a/n: this is sort of long, sorry. do you guys prefer the longer format or should i try to shorten my work down?

> > >

You and Chris had begun to hang out more and more recently. Separate from group hangouts, and separate from Nick and Matt.

Before, you would usually hang out with at least one other person - but slowly, and gradually, you guys began to have one-on-ones instead.

It was a seamless transition. One that you two hardly even noticed until Matt mentioned it one day.

“What’s up with you and Chris?” he had asked.

You ignored his question but it echoed through your brain days and days after. What was up with you and Chris?

Now you were getting ready to go to dinner. With Chris.

He had called you half an hour before, stating that he was bringing you out for food. When you asked whether his brothers were coming, he almost seemed shocked.

“No. Why would I be bringing Nick and Matt? It’s just us.”

And he left it at that.

You put on a casual outfit, as you weren’t expecting it to be anything big. I mean, you guys were just two friends going out to eat - nothing major, right?

Yet even though you knew it wasn’t a date, you were growing increasingly nervous.

The two of you had never crossed the boundary between friends and dating - but the countless movie nights you had together at your house, your sleepovers, and walks around the neighborhood started to feel more and more couple-y as time went by.

You just put your finished touches to your outfit when you heard your front door unlock. Chris had been given a spare key to your house upon the millionth time that he stayed over. It was just easier that way since you two spent so much time together.

“I’m in here!” you shouted as you picked up your keys and bag.

Chris knocked on your door before entering, hands in his pockets as he waited for you.

You gave him a smile, admiring his outfit. He looked good, and as the thought crossed your head you were surprised. It’s not that you’ve never appreciated his looks before, but the butterflies you felt when he looked at you confused you.

‘Just friends,’ you thought to yourself for what felt like the hundredth time this month.

“Gimme a sec, I can’t find my wallet,” you muttered as you dug through your bag.

Chris raised an eyebrow at you, tilting his head.

“No need. I’m paying,” he said.

Your head shot up to look at him. Sure he had paid for you before, but never for dinner. Sometimes he let you pay when you insisted, and he never let down an offer if you urged to bring your money.

Taking your shocked silence as an answer, he walked up to you. Zipping your bag up and taking it in his hand, he grabbed your other hand and pulled you towards your front door.

“What’s this all about, anyway?” you asked, tying your shoelaces.

“I can’t take my friend out on a date?” he joked, but there was a hint of sincerity in his eyes.

You looked away, trying not to blush like an idiot.

He always found a way to mess with you, so you didn’t think much of his response.

Getting your car keys ready, you walked out of the house, Chris locking the door behind you. Looking up you could see the minivan parked outside. This was getting weird - Chris never drove you anywhere.

“What’s with the car?” you asked suspiciously.

Taking your keys from your hand and throwing it into your bag that he was still holding, he responded.

“What kind of date would I be if I made you drive.”

He said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Taking your hand again, he walked you to the car. This time, your heart fluttered. The hold on your hand was gentle - almost as if he was testing the waters.

A casual hand hold was new to you. Chris had only ever done it to drag you out of bed, or the house. Never just to walk together.

He opened the door for you, pulled out your chair at the diner, and as promised, paid for the bill. You were beyond bewildered. You now were questioning whether or not him calling this a date was a joke.

The drive home was silent, only the faint buzz of the radio could be heard in the background.

From the side of your eye, you could see Chris’ head turn towards you. You look to him and smile. He returned a bashful smile before focusing his attention back to the road.

Parking in your front yard, he walked to your side of the door to open it once more. He offered you his hand, helping you climb out of the car.

You needed to have a talk with him. Like - immediately.

Entering the house, you both took your shoes off, ready to end the night with a movie. It was like a ritual - you came home and got comfy on the couch to watch some silly thing that Chris had saved for you both on his Netflix account.

Before you let Chris walk deeper into your home, you grabbed his wrist, pulling him towards you.

“Hey,” you said, gaining his attention, “About today…”

“What about it?” his brows furrowed, wondering what you meant.

“I just- I wanna be on the same page.” you said nervously.

“About?”

“Us.”

You anticipated a response. Honestly you just wanted him to say something. Anything.

He took a cautious step towards you, looking you square in the eyes. He had this sudden air of confidence about him - like he was 100% sure of what he was about to say.

“It’s not like it was really our first date - it’s just the only one that we acknowledged was a date,” he said nonchalantly. Again, acting as if it was such a plain fact.

You agreed of course. There was no beating around the bush. You guys had been practically going on dates for weeks.

“I couldn’t tell if you were being serious.”

You felt slightly stupid and small. Insecure was the last thing you wanted to come across as, but you couldn’t help it.

“Of course I was - I am,” he said, taking your hands in his. “I thought we might as well go on a proper one, y’know?”

You smiled at him. He was such an idiot sometimes, but you loved it. If he had just told you beforehand you could’ve avoided all this confusion.

“And I’m serious about this. About you,” he said.

You knew Chris wasn’t good with commitment, so him being so open melted your heart.

“Okay. We can take it slow then,” you said.

“I think we’ve been taking it slow enough,” he laughed.

You laughed along with him. He was right. All the times you two tiptoed around the conversation of what you two really were. Ignoring his brother’s questions about your relationship. It was finally time to come to terms with what was happening between you.

“Well if you say so. I do think it’s customary for a man to kiss their date once they’re at the door,” you said.

With a smirk on his face, and a blush creeping up his neck, he leaned down to meet your lips.

He gently pushed you into the wall, pressing his bodyweight against you. The kiss started slow but quickly spiraled into a passionate, long-awaited release of emotions.

All the pent up tension from the past few weeks was exchanged into the kiss. The desperation evident in the way that his hands roamed across your frame, snaking around your back to arch you into him.

He let out a soft sigh, tilting his head to deepen the kiss.

His hair tickled your face, and as you pulled back you tucked it behind his ear.

You let out a breathy laugh, feeling relieved.

As you two stood there with Chris’ grip tight on your waist, and your hands wrapped around his neck, you struggled to catch your breath.

“So much for taking it slow,” he joked, nudging his nose with yours.

You rolled your eyes playfully. As if he wasn’t about to kiss you anyway. Watching as he leaned his head down, you heard his voice pierce through the silence.

“Let’s go watch that movie, hm?” he whispered against your ear.

He once again took your hand, interlocking your fingers and pulling you towards the living room.

The rest of the evening was spent snuggled together on the couch. Never in your wildest dreams did you expect this to come out of your one-on-one hangouts - but you were thrilled with the outcome.

It’s safe to say that your “first date” went well.

[thecameronchronicles]

Finish What You Started

TW: Smut. Language. 

SUMMARY: Following the arrival of an erection in which you were responsible for, JJ makes you take care of what you left unfinished…

WORD COUNT: 1300

*Requested*

The game got out of hand rather quickly. The dares quickly exceeded what would be deemed appropriate in any other group of friends. But with the pogues, it seemed that orientation and judgment was a blur as the rules were pliable at best and all that mattered was completing that dare. And just as Kiara had done a shot off of Sarah and John B had streaked the entire perimeter of The Chateau, it was now your turn to choose the latter of the aforementioned game. 

“Truth or Dare?” Pope questioned as his eyes flashed between you and JJ, aware you were the only two yet to partake in your role. 

“Dare…” You amused them as he slowly nodded.

“Show us how it’s done…” He teased while offering a popsicle from the cooler at the side of the hot tub as the girls chuckled and the boys devoted their eyes to you. 

“That’s the best you’ve got?”

“I mean unless you have something better in mind…” He reclined to the edge of the hot tub in wait as you tore the packaging off of the popsicle and pulled it between your lips. 

Just as you would upon any willing lover, you wrapped your mouth around its phallus-shaped length and pulled it well beyond your gag reflex as JJ’s eyes suddenly darkened with lust. Where John B and Pope found it more amusing and the girls shared in this joint laughter, you noticed how JJ’s gaze was set with a focus. Because of this, you kept your eyes to him, proceeding to ‘blow’ the popsicle as he watched every motion. Your eyes rolling closed, the echo of your moans, and the drip of its juice on either side of your mouth-all lf it making him entranced.

“Seriously, J?!” Kiara teased while pointing to the erection prominent behind his trunks. In immediate defense, he used both hands to cover himself before drawing his hands to you. 

“What the fuck am I supposed to do, I’m only human, Jesus!” The game quickly died down from this as everyone decided it was more fun to tease JJ than it was to follow through on any other dares. This is what prompted JJ to leap out of the tub and storm inside to showcase this bout of immaturity. 

He wouldn’t speak a word to you even though he had offered to drive you home since you had been one of the last to stop drinking. But with a ride in silence, you would have preferred anyone else over him as this existed in vast contrast to the usual lighthearted karaoke sessions you had within the car, if not the deep conversations. 

“Are you gonna stop pouting sometime this week?” You teased as he kicked himself out of the car and moved into your house once noticing your parent’s car was absent from its usual spot. 

“Look, J, we were all just-” But the second that you crossed the threshold of your house, your face was between his hands and your lips were silenced by his. 

“It’s bad enough I have to be around you when all you wear are those skimpy bikinis…but making eye contact like that-Fuck, I can’t take it anymore…So you have a choice to make here, sweetheart.” He pulled back so you could read the sincerity across his expression. 

“Either you finish what you started or next time you do anything even remotely sexual, I’ll bend you over the closest surface and make good on it then…No matter who’s in the room-” Whether it was the fact you remained somewhat tipsy or the dominance that contradicted his usual sexualized banter, you were wrapped around him by your own actions as he was quick to accept you. 

“How long until they’ll be back?” He asked after basking in a French kiss that informed him of just how talented your tongue had been. 

“Two hours-” You answered once looking at the clock. 

“Good, because I’m gonna fuck you right here, I can’t wait until your room-” He explained while taking you onto the couch, pulling you over his lap as you removed him from his shirt and traced down his abdomen to the perimeter of his belt. 

“You know if we would have been alone, I would have bent you over the edge of that hot tub?” He paused for a second, wiping a section of missed juice from your neck with his tongue as your fingers clawed into his shoulder. “Should’ve fucked you with that damn popsicle-”

“J!”

“Would have cooled you off…” He teased, you both becoming temporarily lost in the humor, before being reminded of your task at hand. Joining in a kiss for only a moment, he would work his shorts from his hips before untying your suit, licking his lips at the imagery before him. 

“Goddamn, sweetheart.” He blew a breath of disbelief before you grinned, reaching to line him up into you before he took your wrist. 

“Nuh uh. I think it’s only fair that I get what the popsicle did…” 

“Really?”

“I saw how much of it you took…I know you can do it…I’ll even make it quick for ya-I just want to feel it for a bit…’lrigh?” You obliged, lowering off of his lap and onto your knees before taking him between your lips. Teasingly slow at first, he would scoff until waiting when you’d direct your attention to him, until he’d speak again. 

“Any idea how fucking beautiful you look right now?” You slowly nodded, purposeful doe eyes looking back towards him as he groaned in your intentions. 

“Get up here and ride me, right now-” He pleaded as you had pulled him from your hollowed cheeks with a teary gaze relieved by his retracted cock. Drawing your middle finger around your lips to reclaim the salty excess, he took you by your hair to steady you as you finally guided him inside of you. 

“Oh, God, JJ-”

“Don’t hold back on me, princess-give me all you got…” You allowed him to pull your hair as he buried his lips into your skin, leaving behind bruises of his temporary devotion, while flexing inside of you, inciting the moans he had strived for since the beginning of the game-and long before that. 

“Look at me-” He suddenly demanded as you rose and fell together, his arms pulling you against him in desperation, as you struggled to focus on him through the pleasure driving your eyes closed. Yet, you obeyed out of the sheer desire to please him. 

“I wanna watch you come, so keep those eyes open…” He spoke breathlessly as you nodded, allowing them their momentary blinks but forcing them back open as he’d tighten his fingers around the back of your neck. 

“So fucking good, princess. Don’t fucking stop until you drown my cock…God, you’re so tight…” He breathed in disbelief as your body began to react to that coming orgasm, those desperate pulls and moans driving you into more of a rowing motion with your hips as he stabilized you. 

“Come for me…Come hard for me, princess-”

“JJ!”

“I”m right hter with you-right there-right-Fuck!” And with that, it drew silent as you rode this mutual high, coming down with a similar grin before you would finally climb off of him and dress in only your swim bottoms to torment him. Moving into the freezer, you would pull out another popsicle and return of the living room as he cocked his head. 

“Really?”

“I’m hungry-”

“You think I was joking about fucking you with it? Keep looking at me like that…see what happens.” You teased him with a rise of your brow, waiting for him to make a move…

Taglist: @hopebaker @iovdrew @penny4yourthoughts @magnificantmermaid @pickingviolets @lovedetlost @trikigirl271 @my-baexht-ls @slut4starkey @slvtherinseeker @obxiskewl @obxxrxfes @bluesongbird @slut-era @ailee-celeste @rafesbae @pankhoeforlife

[ash-writies]

I’m a huge sucker for fake dating so I would love if you could do a fake dating Connor x fem! Reader!!!

A/n: I also love fake dating, and marriage of convenience, and forced proximity… I think I need mental help lmao hurt/comfort prompt is next! Likes and reblogs are appreciated <3

Summary: You and Connor go Ice Skating with Hank while pretending to be dating.

Warnings: none

2k Words

You walked into the Detroit Police Department. You made sure you looked the part of a sweet, doting, and slightly clingy girlfriend. As you entered Connor looked up from his work and smiled at you. As you approached his desk he stood, “hey,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to your cheek.

“Hey,” you wrapped your arms around him, “are you ready to go on break real quick?”

“Almost, give me five minutes and I’m all yours,” he said, returning to his work, you sighed and pulled a chair next to him. You didn’t bother taking off your coat, the constantly opening doors of the DPD kept it cold.

“Hey y/n,” Hank called with a fresh cup of coffee in his hand, “waiting for Connor again huh?”

“As always,” you sarcastically sighed and rolled your eyes. Hank was the reason you were “dating” Connor. He was worried that Connor might be too lonely and Connor didn’t want Hank to worry about him.

He groaned and glared at Connor, “that work’s not going anywhere.”

“Just a couple more minutes…” Hank rolled his eyes and sat at his desk.

“So is this an interesting case or something?” you asked.

“Nah, we’re just finishing up the last of the paperwork.”

You nodded and looked at the coffee cup, “I’m surprised he hasn’t said anything about that.”

“He has plenty to say when you’re not here,” he shrugged, taking a long sip. You smiled and looked at your phone, your break just started but you only had thirty minutes. 

At that moment Connor turned off his screen and stood, “alright, are you ready?”

“I’ve been ready since I walked in,” you smirked.

He returned your smile, “let’s go then. Goodbye Hank.”

“Hmm. See ya y/n,” the man said, opening his computer to do his paperwork. The two of you walked to the nearest cafe and talked while you waited for your food.

“Hank says I don’t take you on enough dates,” he began, “are you free to do something Saturday?” 

You hummed, “I should be, same as usual?”

Usually, he went to your apartment and you both did your own thing or you watched a movie together. Sometimes it meant doing a fake date where you just set up your dining room to look fancy and he takes unflattering pictures of you to show Hank. “No,” he said.

You furrowed your brows, “Oh? So what are we doing?” You expected his answer to be the same “yes” it always was. You were glad for the sudden change though, the more the two of you hung out the more he intrigued you.

“We are going ice skating with Hank,” he stated. 

You thanked the waiter as your food was set in front of you, “what?”

“Ice skating is an ideal group activity,” he began, “it is fun and a good cardio workout.”

“I meant, why are we going ice skating with Hank?”

“To show him how happy we are,” he said, watching you take a bite of your food.

“Oh okay,” you said, swallowing your food.

He smiled at you, “great! I’ll pick you up at seven.” You returned his smile and quickly finished your food. 

As you left you checked the time, “I can’t stop by the station,” you said, “I’m running late.”

“That’s fine,” he smiled, wrapping his arms around you, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Returning his embrace you said, “See ya.”

A few days passed and it was suddenly Saturday evening. You were nervous the whole day and couldn’t think of what to wear now that it was almost time. Connor sent you a text: I’m here, are you ready? You two had decided to go early so you could practice and not look like a fool in front of Hank.

You shot one back: I just need a few more minutes. You can wait in the living room 

Okay. You pulled on some bell bottom jeans, a long sleeve undershirt, and a red sweater. You gave yourself a once over in the mirror and ran your fingers through your hair. It looked fine the way it was but you brought a hair tie just in case.

“Okay I’m ready!” you called, walking out of your room.

Connor’s LED flashes yellow as he smiled at you, “Do you have any gloves?”

“No but I don’t think I need them,” you shrugged, making sure you had all the things you needed.

“Are you sure? The temperature is going to be 40 degrees fahrenheit-”

“I’m sure,” you laughed. 

He reluctantly nodded, “alright then, let’s go.” You smiled as he led you out of your apartment. You locked the doors and headed downstairs to the car.

The rink was busy and you were nervous about going in at first. Connor noticed your nerves and grabbed your hand. The gesture caught you off guard but you didn’t pull away because he wasn’t one for physical contact. He only let go to carry both pairs of skates.

“Have you ever skated before?” he asked as  you both found a bench.

“I’ve roller skated. This can’t be much different.”

He smirked, lacing up his shoes, “It will be, there aren’t wheels first of all-”

“I bet you won’t be that good,” you interrupted, “you’ve never done either!”

“What if I told you I’ve been practicing?”

“I wouldn’t believe you, you like working too much.”

He chuckled and stood up, looking at your shoes, “You didn’t tie them tight enough.”

“I’ll be fine won’t I?” you asked.

He bent over and began retying your laces, “making sure they’re not too loose is beneficial because it prevents blisters and supports your ankles.” He continued with his ramble about health that you couldn’t help but zone out. You looked at his beanie, he usually wore it to make himself look more human.

“I hate this beanie,” you muttered absent mindedly.

“Why?” he asked looking up. You were suddenly met with his eyes and it startled you out of your trance.

“Hm?”

“Why don’t you like the beanie?”

“Oh- I didn’t realize I said that-” you sputtered, “It covers all your pretty hair.”

He smirked, “Well you only have to put up with it for an hour, two at the most.”

“How will I make it?” you said, rolling your eyes. He chuckled and helped you up. The two of you awkwardly waddled into the rink. Connor stepped in first and held his hand out. You grabbed it and tried to step down only to slip. 

Connor wrapped his arm around your waist and pulled you up with the hand that was already holding yours, “is it any different so far?” he asked, laughing.

You felt your face heat up, “No- I always slip stepping into the rink.” He hummed and slowly lowered your hand.

“Here hold onto me,” he said, turning so that he was facing you, “bend your knees and lean forward.” You followed his directions, keeping your hands on his forearms. “Make sure to keep your head up,” you looked up and was face to face with him. He smiled, “good. Now slowly lift one foot up and push forward.” 

You ended up pushing too hard and almost fell again. You frowned as he laughed, “how are you so good at it?”

“It probably has something to do with a program I downloaded,” he shrugged.

“So you’re cheating?”

“There aren’t any rules to ice skating,” he laughed. You huffed and tried pushing off slower. He smiled at your little progress, “we’ll start with the basics…” He led you through the beginner maneuvers and exercises. 

He was about to let you go when Hank called you, “hey lovebirds get over here!” Connor smiled, held your arm, and led you to him.

You slid into the railing, “hey hank!”

“I’m glad you made it, are you ready?” Connor asked, leaning over to check his shoes.

“I’m not sure about getting on the ice,” Hank muttered.

“You can do it, I’ll help you.”

“Nah,” he smiled, “you guys tire yourselves out and we can go out to eat after.” When both of your frowned he added, “my treat-”

You smirked, “well that sounds good to me~ but Connor can’t eat. What does he get out of this?”

Hank glanced at the android and pursed his lips, “hmmm.”

“You can get on the ice for 30 minutes,” Connor offered.

Hank frowned, “no-”

“Fifteen minutes?”

“Connor-”

“Fifteen minutes is the least amount of time you can skate without wasting money.”

“Fine,” the man groaned. 

You chuckled as you watched the man get his skates, “I guess you’ll have to help him now.”

“Yes, I don’t believe he’ll be good at ice skating,” Connor laughed, “I think you’ve had sufficient training. Let’s see, we can skate to the opening to test you.” 

“Okay,” you smiled. Connor stayed close as you led the way to the entrance. You got closer and saw Hank holding onto the railing and skating towards you. You smiled and grabbed the railing beside him, “did you fall getting in?”

“Nope- did you?”

“Almost,” you said, “Connor caught me though and he helped me get better.”

"Do you want my help?" Connor offered.

“I’m okay,” the man grumbled, “I only need to be on here for fifteen minutes…”

“Okay, but if you fall I can’t promise not to laugh,” you teased. You and Connor skated next to him, Connor doing some of the tricks he had downloaded and you just barely being able to skate in a straight line. Connor left the two of you to help a kid that had fallen get up.

You and Hank watched as he gave the kid some pointers, “how has he been with you?”

“He’s been alright,” you shrugged, “more affectionate lately now that I think about it.”

“He’s been talkin about you a lot nowadays.”

“Why?”

“I dunno, maybe he’s in love with you or something,” he chuckled, nudging you.

You noticed Connor skating towards you. You smiled at him and muttered under your breath, “really?”

Once the fifteen minutes was up the three of you returned your shoes and piled into Hank’s car. Even though you and Hank wanted to go to a fast food restaurant Connor talked you out of it. The three of you talked and laughed as you and Hank ate, talking about work and everyday life. When it was time to leave Hank offered to take you home.

“I’ll take her home Hank,” Connor said, LED flashing yellow as he called a car.

“Alright, should I expect you back tonight?” the man teased.

“Of course,” Connor said as Hank began walking to his car, “goodbye, drive safely.”

“See ya,” Hank called, waving as he turned around.

Having exhausted all of your conversation topics, the two of you waited in silence on the trip to your apartment. He walked you to your door and asked, “what were you and Hank talking about?”

“When?” you asked, pulling your keys out of your pocket.

“When I left on the ice rink.”

“Oh, he was asking about you,” you plunged the key into the lock and heard it unbolt, “why?”

“When I came back, your face was flushed and your heart rate had increased.”

“Oh.”

“Did he embarrass you?” he continued.

“No,” you muttered leaning in your doorway.

“Oh I must’ve misread the situation.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Are you in love with me?” his led began to glow yellow as he stared at you. Suddenly you were embarrassed, “I mean he was saying that you talk about me a lot and said that you were in love with me- If it was to make it seem more real I understand-”

He calmly said your name, “I am in love with you.”

“I just- what?”

He slowly lifted his hands and rested them on your arms, “I’m in love with you.”

You felt your whole world tremble and all you could think to say was, “oh.”

“I- are you interested in really dating me?” he mumbled, his eyes searching yours

“I- yes of course!” you said, snapping out of it.

He smiled and let his hand slip from your arms, “phew, I was worried for a moment- So, see you Monday?”

“Yup, see ya Monday,” you giggled.

[walker-extended-universe]

Knock on my Door and I Will Answer

Relationship(s): Kai & Tom Davidson

Tags/Warnings: Implied/Referenced Torture, Aftermath of Torture, Healing, Hurt/Comfort, Murder, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Canonical Character Death, Gaslighting, Secrets, Understanding, Episode: s01e13 Let Him Hang, Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence

Summary: What if Tom came to Kai for help after he escaped the barn? An AU in which Tom actually has to deal with his injuries following Shane's torture session

Written for @febuwhump prompt 15: "Who did this to you?"

A/N: The dynamic between these two makes my brain go brrrrrr so forgive me if I fall down a crazy fic rabbithole with them

Taglist: @theladywyn, @ihavepointysticks, @klaatu51, @itsjessiegirl1, @neptunium134

-------

Kai was usually up late doing laundry or working on a tailoring project. It was rare of anyone to bother him after sundown, most people preferring beer and bread to his tea and noodles at this hour.

Still, he was not surprised by the knock on his door. Sometimes people just needed a hot meal and Kai was happy to give out a bowl or two, free of charge. Setting aside the shirt he was mending, Kai answered the door. “What can I- Tom?”

The sheriff was standing on his doorstep, swaying with exhaustion (and possibly blood loss). “Kai,” he croaked. “I need- I need-”

“Come in. Quickly.” Kai took his arm and guided him to sit on the table. “Who did this to you?” he asked, cutting away Tom’s bloody shirt to see the damage better.

“My brother,” Tom slurred. “Gus- Gus came but Shane shot him. I-I ran when Gus shot back. I-I ran….”

“It’s okay.” Kai filled a bowl with water and took some spare strips of fabric to use for cleaning. “Most people would’ve done the same.”

“‘M not most people. I’m the sheriff. I gotta… I gotta be better…” Tom swayed and Kai barely caught him.

“Take it easy,” he soothed. “I need to finish cleaning you. Once I do that, I’ll let you lay down so I can tend to your back, alright?”

Tom grunted but didn’t fight against Kai’s ministrations. Once the blood was cleaned away, Kai set to work bandaging the cuts. Tom’s front wasn’t too bad, mostly bruises. But the back…..

“Traitor” was carved into his back along with other deep cuts. “You said your brother did this to you?”

“We don’ get along,” Tom muttered.He hissed as Kai started stitching him up.

“I’m sorry,” Kai said. “I just need to stitch these cuts. I’ll try to be quick.”

Tom grunted but otherwise let him work. Kai knew it had to hurt, so he tried to work quickly. There was only so quickly a man could stitch up a wound like this.

“Do you think you can make it to the hotel?” Kai asked when he was done.

“Uh, yeah,” Tom said. “Might- Might need help though.”

“I’ll go with you,” Kai offered. He found a clean shirt for Tom to wear and helped him to his feet. “Just lean on me.”

The walk took longer than it should have; thankfully, no one was out and about to see them. Kai knew Tom wouldn’t want to cause a panic. Not yet, anyway.

By the time they made it to Hagan’s, Tom was fully leaning on him, barely shuffling his feet. Kai pushed the door open and dragged Tom into the lobby. Just as he was debating how to get Tom up the stairs, Kate came down them.

“Kai, what- What the hell happened?!” She rushed down the rest of the steps.

“Tom was attacked; he’s in bad shape,” Kai explained. “I patched him up as best I could but he’s not doing too well.”

“Who did this?” Kate asked, looking over the fallen sheriff.

“He said it was his brother.”

“Shane?” Kate’s eyes flicked to him. “The one who brought the Tong in here? The one who might have killed Abby’s husband?”

“I don’t know of any other brothers he has.”

“Right, right… Well, where’s Shane now?”

“Barn,” Tom said suddenly. “I- I left him in the barn. With Gus….”

“Shit.” Kate stood up. “Let’s get him to bed. I’ll- I’ll get Hoyt and we’ll go check on Gus. If Shane did this….” SHe shook her head and got on Tom’s other side to carry him up.

Once Tom was in bed, Kate left Kai in charge of his care. “I’ll be back as soon as we get Gus,” she promised.

“Be careful,” Kai warned. “Tom made it sound like there was a shootout.”

She nodded. “Don’t worry, I’m always careful.”

And then, they were alone.

Kai gently put Tom on his stomach so that his wounds could breathe. “It’s going to be okay,” he promised Tom. “We’ll make sure Shane gets justice.”

Tom groaned. “‘S not over…. ‘S never over… Always something….”

“I know, I know. But we’ll be here to help,” Kai promised. He would be there to help, at least. He knew Kate and the others didn’t necessarily trust Tom; sometimes he didn't either. But Kai could tell he cared for Independence as much of the rest of them.

Tom hummed. “You’re…. You’re a good one, Kai. You know that?”

“I try to be.”

“You are. Better’n me….”

Kai sighed. “Get some sleep, Tom. You’ll need your strength.”

—-----------

As the sun rose over Independence, Abigail, Kate, and Hoyt came back to town. Abby had Gus on her horse and brought him to the hotel so Kai could tend to him. Like Tom said, he’d been shot, but he was still alive. Barely.

Shane was not so lucky. He’d also been shot, but more fatally. He was found a ways away from the barn, but it seemed to line up with Tom’s story about a shootout. Kai heard Abby asking a lot of questions, trying to put the whole story together, but he blocked it out in the interest of keeping Gus alive. They’d never know the whole story otherwise.

Once he was taken care of, Kai slunk away to check in on Tom. When he entered the sheriff’s bedroom, he saw Tom was sitting up. 

“Sheriff, how are you? Do you need something?”

“I think you can call me by my name after what you did for me,” Tom muttered. “I could use a drink.”

He nodded and poured a glass of whiskey. “We found Gus and your brother,” he said. “Gus is alive, but just barely. Shane is… He’s dead. I’m sorry.”

Tom nodded and sipped his glass slowly. “Is Gus…. Is he awake?”

“He’s recovering. In the meantime…. People have questions about what happened out there.”

Tom finished his drink. “I suspected by brother was hiding out on my family’s property out here. I went to confront him, and he got the better of me. He tried to kill me. Then Gus arrived. I tried to tell him what was going on but Shane- Shane shot him. Gus shot back and I managed to get out. I don’t really know what happened after that.”

He was lying. Or, at least, he wasn’t telling the whole truth. Kai could tell. The way Tom wouldn’t look at him, the calm way he recounted the story…. It was almost too perfect.

But Kai had seen what Shane did to Tom. He couldn’t blame the man for needing to bend the truth a bit. “It sounds like Shane got what was coming to him.”

Tom nodded. “I hope you’re right.”

Kai took the glass from his hands and guided him to lie down. “Let me check your wounds. I may need to change the dressings.”

Tom hummed and let him work. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “For everything.”

“Of course, Tom.”

—-----------

Gus woke up a few hours later, with a slightly different story to tell. “I went to the barn to confront Tom but- He was tied up by his brother. Shane was doing…something to him. I couldn’t tell what. Then they started yelling about the other person being the killer and Shane shot at me. We went back and forth for a few shots before I went down. Somehow, Tom got loose and he helped me to my feet. After that… Something hit me and I went down again.”

“Sounds a little different than what Tom said,” Abigail muttered.

“It sounds like everything happened really fast,” Kai countered. “It’s possible for people to remember events a little differently than each other when no one really knows what’s going on. And it sounds like Tom was already in a lot of pain when it happened. Maybe he just…forgot some details.”

“You may be right but-”

“He is,” Kate said. “That’s why we always tried to have multiple accounts at Pinkerton’s. It was the only way to get the real story.”

“And the only other witness is dead,” Hoyt muttered.

Good riddance, Kai thought. Anyone who was willing to get into bed with the Tong the way Shane was wasn’t worth defending.

“You were already thinking Tom was innocent, Abby,” Gus said. “It looks like you may have been right. I thought Tom was trying to protect his brother- and maybe he was- but Shane got what was coming to him in the end.”

Abby nodded. “I suppose. Just… Not how I imagined it happening.”

“Justice rarely plays out the way we want,” Kate lamented.

“But we give it a go anyway.”

Kai turned around to see Tom standing in the doorway. “What are you doing up? You should be resting-”

“I’m fine, Kai. Looks like Gus is too. Maybe you oughta open a doctor’s office next.” Tom walked closer and put a hand on Kai’s shoulder. “I think we’ve all had an eventful day. Drinks are on me tonight.”

“Now that’s the best thought you’ve had since you became sheriff!” Hoyt said, already heading for the bar downstairs. Kate rolled her eyes but followed him, with Abby close behind.

“I think I’ll have to bow out of the festivities tonight,” Augustus said.

“You should too, Tom,” Kai said, guiding him back out of Gus’ room toward his own.

Tom sighed. “You might be right. I’m sure Kate will keep track of the tab for me though.”

They were silent for the rest of the way back to Tom’s room. “What you said in there,” Tom started once they were alone, “when Abby was questioning my story… Thank you.”

Kai shrugged. “You wouldn’t be the first man I met that was condemned for remembering things differently than the popular story.”

Tom gripped his shoulder. “I mean it, Kai. Thank you.”

Kai could see it in Tom’s eyes. He knew. He knew that Kai knew. And that was okay. “Like I said, not my first time helping a friend.”

Tom nodded. “I’m glad to have you as a friend. I hope… that we become better friends.”

Kai hoped that too.

[rriavian]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💗 (i don't know if you do these sorts of chain-letter things, or if you'd prefer not to, but for my part i do like to know which of their works a given author is especially hype on, so consider this an opportunity to gush!)

Thank you for the ask! Ooh I'm happy to be tagged/sent chain-letter things, though sometimes I might I miss one or take a while to answer. Ok so I’ve been going back and forth over this for a few weeks, because I’ve written far more than I ever thought I would and it’s really, really hard to pick favourites!

I’m really sorry for the delay, but here are 5 of my Sandman fic self recs:

Baiting the Trap – Corintheus oneshot. I feel like this one was almost a given, it’s the fic that started it all, and as much as I remember spending weeks and weeks agonising over whether to post it I had a lot of fun writing it. Still the fic I’m most known for I think! I feel a little self-conscious recommending my own work (and to be honest I spent far too long trying to word a description of this fic!) but this is essentially Dream choosing not to destroy the Corinthian after the Convention. Think Dream deigning to play a game of 3D chess with his nightmare for the very first time, but in a sexy way, and the Corinthian thinking he’s winning right up to the final move…also in a sexy way.

Deliverance – Corintheus again, currently 5/6 chapters. Season one AU where the Corinthian’s curiosity gets the better of him and he visits Dream while he’s trapped by Burgess and ends up breaking him out. He’s quite pissed off about it too. We get a love confession, a trip to the Dreaming, and then a Corintheus version of Dream’s quest to retrieve his tools. A little bit soft, a little bit angsty, with the Corinthian’s unique mix of love, rage and possessiveness shining through in varying degrees. I almost didn’t rec this as it’s incomplete but I am very very fond of it! The last chapter is very nearly finished, I just need to sit down and really work through it.

Astronomers – Lucienne/Dream oneshot. A ficlet based on a prompt from @bobbole. Soft and sweet, filled with mutual devotion. I adore the relationship between these two and there are some fascinating parallels I’d been itching to explore. I think they are the same flavour of workaholic just in different species—both proud characters with incredible dedication to the Dreaming, and to each other, and I wanted to capture the intimacy of their relationship. The sheer depth to it is portrayed so well in the show. Ahh I need to write more for them!

Lead the Way – Orpheus & Dream, one of two one shots I’ve written for them and it was very hard to choose! This was another fantastic prompt from bobbole. It’s a human AU where Dream is teaching Orpheus how to cross the road, which can be very daunting to a child. Sweet family fluff, Dream’s meticulous approach to even the simplest of things. This one is very special to me because it’s inspired by a real memory from my childhood, so I hope you enjoy it if you do give it a read! I really wish I could draw because the image of little Orpheus holding Dream’s hand as they wait to cross the road is adorable.

A slow advancing tide – let’s end on more Corintheus shall we! 4/4 chapters, a gift for @aisalynn. 5+1 fic where either the Corinthian or Dream end up nearly unconscious while in the others company. It definitely has some of my favourite prose, as well as exploring one of my favourite tropes. The Corinthian all relaxed and dazed flirting with Dream after a punishment? Dream high af for (spoilery) reasons and refusing to keep his hands to himself? So much fun to write! I always love scenarios where I can explore how powerful characters act in moments of vulnerability, though anyone whose read my work probably knows my approach to it tends to be unexpected.

Again, thank you for the ask!! This has definitely reminded me how lucky I am to have such incredible friends who've sent me such amazing prompts (though I’ve also got a fair few still unfinished, which I feel really bad about because I love writing for prompts and you’ve all been so kind to indulge me!). It’s been a bit of a slow year, but hopefully picking up a bit now.

If you’ve read these already then I hope you enjoyed them <3 and if you haven’t then I hope you enjoy any that interest you :)

[nicorfyrweorm]

I saw this post by @fantasiawandering and went "oooh!", so I guess I've been tagged.

How many works do you have on AO3?

108, which is... far more than I thought it'd be, now that I actually check.

What's your total AO3 word count?

680,841. That's... well, according to what I've looked up, that's about 8.5 novels, so... whoa...

What fandoms do you write for?

Doctor Who, Transformers (G1 and some Beast Wars) and Jujutsu Kaisen. I've also briefly forayed into Batman, Final Fantasy VII, One Piece, Dinosaur King and Zombies, Run!

You don't want to know how many unposted fandoms I'm in, trust me.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

The first five installments of my Doctor Who S05 AU, After the Time War.

The premise goes as follows:

In one universe, the Doctor regenerated after sending Gallifrey into the Time War, and the Master along with it. In this one, the Doctor didn't regenerate... And the Master didn't get stuck in the Time War. ... Amy Pond still has to deal with a crazy alien, though. Or the one where the Doctor dies and the Master has to figure out who he is without the noise in his head or a friend by his side.

Each fic covers an 'episode' of Season 05, except for the first one, which covers the last part of The End of Time.

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Most of the time. I would love to say always, but I sometimes leave the comments sitting for one reason or another, and by the time I get to it... Well, it doesn't feel right answering after who knows how many months it's been, though I'm trying to fix that.

What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I hesitate to name anything from the After the Time War series, because even the angstiest one has something that tells you it'll get better. Maybe some first parts of two-parters were angsty, but I wouldn't call them the angstiest. There's a few Transformers prompt fics that have dark or sad endings too, but again, not that angsty in my opinion.

I'll have to go with an oldie, surprised as I am to admit it. Somewhere Only We Know, a Transformers one-shot set in the far far future of the G1 iteration, exploring Starscream's fate after Cybertron's death.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I have a few, but I'll have to go with, ironically enough, Lost Innocence. Despite the title, it's the most wholesome. It's a Final Fantasy VII post-Dirge of Cerberus 'slice of life' oneshot focused on the Turks and AVALANCHE.

Do you get hate on fics?

I don't remember ever getting any. Perhaps a few unkind/too blunt comments, but not hate, and definitely not on Ao3.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Nope. I do have some romantic pairings and relationships, but I tend to 'fade to black' if things seem like they are going to turn down that road, so people can take it whatever way they please.

Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

I have some between related fandoms, like Doctor Who and its spin-offs or different iterations of the Transformers franchise, but they could hardly be considered crossovers. The one that is not and which is the craziest by premise alone is City of Nightmares. It's a Batman/Miraculous Ladybug crossover of sorts, a oneshot that combines both worlds.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think I have. Could be, but if so, I'm not aware of it.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Someone asked me for it once, on a different platform, but I'm not sure it ever came to be.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No, though I've tried some co-writing in real life and it's hard.

What's your all-time favorite ship?

Season 7 Amy and Rory, from Doctor Who, could be one. Asmodeus and Fizzarolli, from Helluva Boss, are another one. And I can't come up with any others right now :P

What's the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Big projects like After the Time War, in which I change something about a story (characters, premise, lore...) and then rewrite the story around that. I'll probably never do something as big as I'm currently doing, but I experimented with different ways of doing that in Devils' Fruit, a One Piece premise-change that covers up to the Time Skip, so I'll have to see if I could do something similar with those unfinished WIPs.

What are your writing strengths?

The ability to let the characters steal the show. I may have a plan about how a chapter/fic will go, but when I start writing, the characters say or do unexpected things and I follow them to its conclusion, even if it completely ignores my original plans. It can be a headache, but I like the results. They feel more 'organic'.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Discipline, or rather lack thereof. I write when I feel like it, but I have a bajillion fics at the same time, and when a new idea pops into my head, I have to try really hard not to allow it to take over. Usually, I do that by outlining it and then letting it go, which takes some time but nowhere as much as it would've otherwise.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I don't usually do it, because I don't want to botcher it, but when I must... I know a few languages, so I'm comfortable if it's in those languages. When it isn't, I try to avoid it, taking a "they started spouting gibberish" approach. And when I absolutely cannot avoid it, I tend to turn to online translators and be open to corrections.

First fandom you wrote for?

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, though it was very briefly and on a different site. The first 'serious' fandom was the Transformers franchise, with a brief foray into the Bay-verse and a more permanent one with the Generation 1 cartoons.

Favorite fic you've ever written?

Am I the only one that thinks that's a low blow? How can I choose? I guess I could say one of the newer ones, because I'm more experienced with life and writing and whatnot, but my first ones were the ones that gave me that boost to post, even if they're rough.

It's not on Ao3 because it's an old fic (2014-2018) and I would like to polish it a bit before posting it there, so it remains on FF.net exclusively. It's called Half the Truth, and it's a Transformers G1 fic about Spike figuring out some truths of Cybertronian culture and the fallout of those. It was the first fic that made me think hard about things, instead of it being just a story.

[soloragoldsun]

So, since AO3 is down, I’ll post the next (late) part of the Coffee Talk Fanweek here until it’s fixed. Prompt is Bedchamber/Hive Mind.

Sol often talked about how drinks could connect people. They had been speaking figuratively in most cases, like when Lua ordered a matcha latte not long after Baileys ordered one after their temporary breakup. In the case of Sol specifically, things were a bit more literal.

One prime example was when they found themself feeling a pang of exhaustion followed by a desperate, ill-advised craving for espresso as they closed up for the night. They took out their phone as they started back toward their apartment. There was only one ring before Freya answered.

“Wha- I mean hey!” There was a noticeable tremor in her voice. “Damn, you never actually call, I just realized. What’s up? Did Coffee Talk explode?” There was a pause. “W-Wait, it didn’t actually, right?”

“If you drink that espresso, I’m marching down there right now and dragging you back to Seattle by your ear,” Sol replied in a flat, unamused voice.

“Uuuhhhhh…” Freya’s voice trailed off before turning into a weak chuckle. “Is that a threat or a promise…?” A pause. “Jeez, I can feel you glaring at me through the phone. How do you even do that?!”

“Don’t change the subject,” Sol said firmly. “You sound terrible and you’re about to drink espresso when you should be sleeping.”

“How do you even-?!”

“Hive mind.”

There was a sharp inhale, and Sol wondered if they had revealed too much. While Freya was aware of their parentage and some of their powers, the fact that they had been developing more hive-based abilities had not been mentioned until now.

“You aren’t…reading my mind right now, right?” Freya’s voice came through a bit more high-pitched than usual, and much shakier than before.

“It doesn’t work like that,” Sol assured her. “I was born away from our species’ hive, so I don’t have the same ability to connect. The connections I do have naturally develop when I become close to people, and even then, it isn’t all-encompassing. It manifests differently in each hybrid, but for me the connection takes the form of the drinks I serve.”

“…Are you saying you psychically know what drinks your regulars want? That makes so much freaking sense!” Freya gasped.

“Want and need,” Sol said pointedly. “Remember when you were cramming your first book and I had to basically force a Bedchamber into your hand?”

“Yeah.” Freya’s voice became softer then, with a smile Sol could hear. “Okay, you win. The espresso shots are dead by now anyway.” A mournful sigh. “Waste of good coffee.”

“Tell you what,” Sol continued as they entered their apartment. “I’ve got a craving for a Bedchamber right now. Let’s both make one and drink it while we talk. Then you are to go to bed once your mug is empty!”

Another soft laugh that made Sol’s stomach flip. “Sounds good.”

Sol put their phone on speaker and all was peaceful as the two prepared their drinks. The good thing about the Bedchamber was that a milk frother, while nice, was entirely optional. All one needed was a saucepan, milk, honey, and a cinnamon stick.

“So, was it really your hive mind that told you I was having espresso,” Freya asked. “Or did you just come back from a timeline where I drank those shots and my head exploded?”

Sol chuckled. “I can’t rewind time at will. When I’m in a significant event that will require precise actions on my part to produce necessary results, I feel a change, like the tingling in a limb that has fallen asleep and is just waking up. Nothing like that has happened lately.”

“Interesting,” Freya murmured. There was a sound of a pencil scratching.

“Put that down! You’re supposed to be drinking your milk, not taking notes!”

“Ugh, okay, Mom!” Freya groaned, taking an exaggeratedly-loud slurp of her drink. After a moment, she spoke again. “Thanks for looking out for me. I try not to fall back into those old habits, but sometimes…”

“It happens,” Sol finished, taking a drink of their own Bedchamber, enjoying the soothing taste of honey and cinnamon. “Was it writer’s block, or were you on a roll before crashing?”

“On a roll, which is definitely not a bad thing,” Freya said. “But the rest of the idea will hold till morning.”

“Exactly.” Sol smiled, relieved that they had managed to help keep their friend safe and healthy, even in a small way. “I can’t wait to read the new stuff when you get back.”

“Can’t wait to show you!” A pause. “I really miss you. I…I keep wanting to show you what I wrote or talk to you about something that happened, only to remember that you’re not here. I mean, I know I can call or text, but it’s not the same as talking over the bar with one of your espressos in front of me, you know?”

Sol’s chest felt warm and they weren’t sure if it was because of the Bedchamber or not. They closed their eyes, schooling their emotions before they responded in what they thought was a calm voice. “I know what you mean. I may be connected to my chosen hive, but I still like it best when they’re close to me physically.”

“Glad to be part of the hive,” Freya replied, her voice taking on an oddly-forced brightness that Sol tried to understand. “Speaking of hives and honey and stuff, I finished my drink. Already feel my eyes drooping.” A yawn emphasized her point. “Night!”

Sol blinked at how quickly the conversation was ending. “Y-Yeah. Night. Sleep well, okay?”

“Yeah… Well, goodnight!”

Sol frowned, staring at the phone as the call ended. “You just said that,” they murmured. When they focused, they felt a hint of disappointment smothered by tiredness, but nothing else. Those feelings easily transferred over to them as they fell into a restless sleep.

[internetgremlin-writes]

We need no. 8 and 143 for Sebastian Vettel x reader 😍

8 - "Looks like we'll be trapped for a while,"

143 - "Are you trying to turn me on or are you really just that oblivious?"

SEB REQ SEB REQ SEB REQ!! Very excited about this one because I ADORE Seb and I was secretly worried no one would want to hear about him. Entirely based on Seb's flirting with anything that moves era

Also, this is my 100th post on this blog woo

Warnings: Yeah this is getting smutty. NSFW!

Prompt night info and list for requesting your own ficlet/HCs here!

Also entered an entire crisis over picking a gif because Seb is a YES for me in all of his eras

"Looks like we'll be trapped for a while," you sighed, slumping back against the elevator and sinking to the floor.

Only you could get yourself stuck in an elevator in the middle of the track stadium with Sebastian fucking Vettel. Sebastian was very calm about the whole thing. Thank god, you thought, that the race had finished and it was only post-race interviews left. If you'd held up the race you would have had to change your identity and move to Peru out of embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry," you apologised again, because it was the only thing you could think of doing. Sebastian gave you a fairly blank look from where he was examining the control panel, trying to kick start the buttons to life.

"Not your fault," it wasn't the first time he'd said that either.

"I shouldn't have jammed the buttons," you were running late. You were still new to the whole journalism thing, and if you were being honest you'd been late because you'd gotten stuck in your tech belt with a wire crossed where it definitely shouldn't and you couldn't get it undone alone. You'd rushed into the elevator and repeatedly stabbed the button for the floor you were supposed to be on in your rush. He shrugged simply, giving the blank buttons another slap.

"I don't think it's the buttons, we called for help before they died," he was right; the elevator had started moving before it had ground to a halt, and you'd been able to get through to the help desk, which was entirely unhelpful and had promised help wouldn't be able to get to you until after the interviews when security would be able to safely clear the mechanics for entry.

"In an arena full of mechanics?" Sebastian had questioned, sounding almost amused at the situation. But apparently being able to build a supercar and fix an elevator required two entirely different skillsets.

Sebastian, as it turned out, was an incredibly nice person. You'd crossed paths with him twice before, both for interviews lasting only a couple of minutes long. He'd remembered you, and the second the elevator had shuddered he was more concerned about making sure that you didn't start to panic than anything else. He gave up trying to spark some life into the button panel and sank down opposite you.

"I knew I should have brought my flask," you mumbled because not being sober in this situation sounded a whole lot better. Sebastian raised an eyebrow at you, a little smirk tugging at his lips.

"Do you normally drink before interviewing us? Are we that scary?" He was teasing you, but you could see there was a genuine interest in the way his blue eyes held yours.

"No, but a shot or two for dutch courage sometimes helps," he broke out into a toothy grin, nodding along in understanding.

"Yes well, some of these young drivers are very attractive. It must be distracting," was he teasing you?

"Not really my type," you said without thinking, your response bluntly honest. Sebastian didn't miss a trick, a gleam in his eye letting you know he was keeping hold of that piece of information.

"So you like the older guys?" There was nothing but simple curiosity in his tone, even so, you couldn't quite look him in the eye when you gave your next answer.

"Well, not total grandpas," you said. Your age you meant. More experienced, sensible, mature, but still young enough to have a sense of humour, to know how to show you a good time. You liked gentlemen. "Aren't I supposed to be interviewing you anyway?"

"Ha, please," he opened his hand in invitation and you mimed a microphone in the air, asking him a few stupid questions about the race and his performance, to which he answered with equally silly responses.

Seb, as you learnt he liked to be called by friends, was fascinating. Even his silly answers gave a little bit of himself to you. Every look he gave you was charged, every raise of his eyebrow or quirk of his lips perfectly calculated. And it was working, because you knew it wasn't just the confined space that was making the German increasingly more attractive.

An hour had passed. There was no phone service, you still couldn't get through to the help desk, and even your pocket radio wouldn't tune in. It was like you were stuck in a void. You groaned in frustration as the batteries on your radio stuttered out.

"This stupid thing," you grumbled as you pulled at the random straps and attachments in attempt to free yourself from the equipment. How Ted Kravitz was happy to walk around all day in his was beyond you. Seb was watching you struggle and slowly got to his feet, stepping closer to you.

"Hey, let me," he was very softly spoken as he stilled you.

His deft hands made short work of your belt. He carefully unplugged wires and removed clips and placed them slowly, one by one onto the floor beside you. Your mic and radio pack were the last things removed, so you thought Seb would step away but his hands were back on your waist. His hands were constantly brushing at the skin of your waist, only covered by the thin fabric of the summery dress you'd decided to wear that day. He undid the final buckle, his hands feather-light as he leant around behind you and you could feel his fingers drag across every centimetre of your skin as he finally pulled the belt off you.

Sebastian dropped the belt, but his blue eyes were fixed on yours as he rolled his bottom lip between his teeth. You weren't sure if you were breathing or not.

"Are you trying to turn me on, or are you really that oblivious?" The words rushed from you in a breathless whisper. You froze for a moment, the fear that you'd made a mistake and were about to make the next god-knows-how-long incredibly awkward. Sebastian was painfully neutral in his expression as he regarded you, but he still hadn't stepped back and the smell of his cologne was fogging your mind,

"Oh, I'm trying," how he sounded so casual, just a hint of playfulness about him. You had no idea how to respond, was he teasing you? This man was a world champion, he could do whatever he wanted. There was an edge to that, the idea of the power he held, he was almost untouchable in the paddock. And it wasn't like he was a golden boy who kept himself out of trouble, Vettel had been handed his fair share of fines over the years.

"Right," you could see his back in the mirror opposite you, he was taller than you, shoulders stretching the fabric of his own polo. You looked helpless, backed up against the wall by him. He was looking at you now, eyes a little darker, trained more on your chest than your face.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"No,"

The second the word left your lips Seb stepped forward, his body pressing against yours as he pinned you against the second mirrored wall. One hand was gripping your hip, with enough pressure to hold you in place. His other hand was already tangled in your hair, pulling you towards him as he captured you in a searing kiss.

Whatever kind, sweet, gentle nature you thought Seb had when he was interviewed had completely vanished. The man in front of you was kissing you like the world was ending. There was nothing gentle about him as he caught your bottom lip between his teeth and bit down. The was nothing gentle about the way his hands were roaming and grabbing at your body as if he was trying to mould you to his shape. There was certainly nothing gentle about the way he was rolling his hips against your thigh.

"Jesus," he managed to hiss as your mouth fell off his and you started attacking his neck, careful to toe the line just before you'd leave a mark on his skin. You decided to throw caution to the wind, because how many times do you find yourself stuck in a lift with a sporting legend, let alone such a handsome one? And besides, part of you wanted to be in that special club of people who'd known him like this.

You dropped to your knees in front of him, your dress providing a perfect view of your cleavage as you made quick work of unbuttoning the shorts he was wearing.

Sebastian groaned loudly as you took him in your mouth, the feeling alone enough to go straight through you. His hand tangled through your hair again, but he let you control the rhythm as he simply watched you bob your head through the mirror. The noises he made were addictive, and hearing him cursing in German was enough to make you want to finish him off like this.

But he was calling your name and asking you to wait so you pulled back oh so slowly, earning yourself another heavy hiss as you released him.

"I have to fuck you in that dress,"

It wasn't a request. But you didn't mind, you liked being told what to do. He pushed you back against the mirror again, lifting your legs and encouraging you to wrap them around his waist. Seb wasn't particularly tall but you always forgot just how strong the drivers were. He held you like you didn't weigh a thing.

His pace was bruising, and you were actually glad you were trapped in the elevator because there was nothing you could do to stop the near-constant stream of noise slipping from you, and he was equally loud. It was almost, almost, embarrassing at how quickly you were approaching your orgasm, but when Seb, oh so confident, let go of you with one hand and slipped it between you to start toying with your clit you were done.

"Seb-" you whined, his name so natural in your mouth. He was moving at a relentless pace, the pleasure almost overwhelming.

"You can do it," he forced the words out through gritted teeth as he watched you scream, your head falling back against the glass as your hips moved forcefully with him, your walls clenching deliciously around him as wave after wave of pleasure shot through you. You felt him twitch and he bit down on your shoulder as he came with a shudder of his own.

You stayed in his arms for a second, the pair of you breathing raggedly and trying to recover when something crackled behind you making you jump. The buttons on the panel were glowing again.

"Hi, it's reception, can you guys hear me? We're sending someone up now,"

[srslysierraa]

Hello! I hope your days are going well!~♡

I heard requests were open!

Lemme get Sun or Moon…or both getting a lil jealous. That’s all I really got. I just feel they get super jealous super easily. Clingy daycare attendants (affectionate)

Labels And Tags.

[part 2 here]

Prompt ;; the Daycare Attendants has always been known to be quite.. protective. It's just in their nature, whether it be with kids or even with you. And yet, this feeling of "protectiveness" is quite, unfamiliar to them. Just the sight of seeing you with someone else that isn't them makes them feel, unpleased, to say the least. So what do you do when an animatronic who's job is to be overbearing gets even more overbearing?

Type ;; fluff, one-shot. tw: slight possessive behavior.

Char. Involved ;; sunnydrop [fnaf sb]

A/N ;; I've been so busy recently with work, making a report, and piano practices. Couple that with me being sick today and having a writer's block and now you have someone who barely has any motivation to even open drafts. But i finally got a small burst of motivation for this request so i hope this brings back my mood of writing and get me rolling to finish the other requests, also i hope this isn't bad bc honestly idk just how much my writing capacity is rn- with that being said, I'll do sunny for now, and follow up with moon as a part 2 next time. I hope that's okay. Enjoy!

The sound of faint pitter patter and stomps of little children as well as adults filled the giant establishment of a pizza place, blaring colors from flickering fairy lights and LEDs bringing the whole thing to life. Giggling kids, talking animatronics, human chatter, background music as well as sound effects from the different arcade games scattered around the Pizzaplex, as you brushed away the wrinkles or dusts from the lower part of your uniform.

In this massive place they call a restaurant and or what is practically an arcade, your part is to be the guide, and by that? Stand around look pretty, make sure no kids gets hurt, give directions to confused families, make sure no one sneaked in, make sure things are clean, and alert authorities when something major happens, be it security or a mechanic. That being said, you're usually stationed around the Daycare, huddled around numerous of tiny innocent human beings just trying to have fun, so there's not much to really do when the Animatronic guarding said Daycare with you is a clean freak, night watch, parental animatronic themselves.

At this point, you might as well give your job to the ever welcoming Sunnydrop who resides in the Daycare. I mean, he does everything for you anyways so it's not like that much would change, but sometimes you do wonder why he would go as far as to not let you talk to pretty much anyone who's just trying to ask for directions. You swear Sun just materialize out of nowhere when anyone your age starts walking to you for whatever reason.

At first you thought that's just how he's programed to be, a bit - no, a LOT hyper as he multitasks his work with the kids together with cleaning whatever trash he finds. Quite normal at first, then you realized he's also there to answer every question each person is trying to ask you. Hm, maybe it's just the parental urge he's programed with in order to do everything himself? Now if you squint at things, it could be called a normal thing for him to do, until he escalates that is.

And escalate he does.

Over time is arguably even worse than the last, it went from him just trying to take your job and do your job for you to him actively trying to stop you from doing your job. Asking you to just take a rest inside the Daycare, telling you to let him handle it, and what's even weirder is that he doesn't seem to do this with quite literally anyone else - animatronic or human employees. And after having enough of it (aka you being scared this'll get you in trouble by your higher-ups), you finally walked your way to the daycare, and out of nowhere two cold hands wrapped themselves around your torso as you're slightly lifted up from the ground and spun around. There he is.

You smiled. Though it was a really fun and nice gesture, you're here for a talk, not games. Not long after a few quick taps to his shoulder, he plopped you down and you asked him what he's doing, while doing the courtesy of telling all the kids that you're holding a block building challenge, with whoever has the biggest and coolest build wins extra chocolate and candy. Them being in the range of 5-7 quickly stumbled over to the building blocks area, while you hold onto Sun for dear life who's seemingly also wanted to participate in the challenge.

He halts when he felt your weight on his, as he looks back with that signature smile on his face. A little hum of curiosity and confusion errupted from his voicebox, two slender hands sliding themselves to the side of your head, cupping your cheeks softly yet intensely in a way in which one would play with the face of a calm kitten. "Yes, Buttercup?" He asks, sweet melody entwined with every word he says. "Sunray, can we have a talk?" This earned both a giddy squeeze to your cheeks from the nickname and a head tilt of curiosity from the Animatronic though he nodded nonetheless, a hand by your back while an arm slithered it way down to your legs, picking you up bridal style as he effortlessly jumps and ducks and runs to a secluded area near the ballpit.

He halts abruptly when he reached his destination, tossing you lightly in the air before catching you again and setting you gently on the ground. The jingle of the bells on his arms rung, as he continuously moves all around you as you try to arrange the words you'd be using towards him. "Sunshine?" "Hm?" His immediate response caught you off guard in a way that it shouldn't have, but you brushed it off. "Why are you not letting me do my work?" Arms crossed and a puffed out pout, tone condescending in a way that you'd want him to tell you. A small mechanical noise errupted from him, as he tries to make sense of what you're saying.

"But you're here right now, in your uniform, you're working! What do you mean?" Any other guard or workers would've snapped at him or just immediately leave when he said that, it sounded like he was messing around, like he purposely acted oblivious to piss someone off. But you knew better, that line of words that he just spewed out was as genuine as ever. Turns out when an animatronic designed to be around kids, mostly interacts with kids, and has the attention span of practically a kid, there's gonna be a time or two where they'll be as oblivious as a kid despite supposed to be the grown up between them, go figure.

“Yes but, Sunny, i’d also need to do my job, you know? And these last few days you’ve really tried your best to stop me.” Arms crossed and pouted, you look directly at the sun themed creation, his hands on his mouth as he lets out a gasp. “No no no! I didn’t mean to do that at all!” He panics, worrying that he might’ve done something extremely bad. Hands on his faceplates as you tries to calm him down, he slows down, slowly looks at you as he droops. “Sunshine! I- I didn’t mean to! Really!” “I know, i know, it’s okay. I’m just here to ask why you’ve been doing it? Insistently trying to stop me from answering people i mean,” 

“Oh,” A huff came from him as the tone of his voice drops a bit, crossing his own arms as he looks away. “I don’t like it.” You blinked, well that was straight forward. “Like what?” “The way you talk to them, i don’t like it,” a little 'hmph' left him as you tries to make sense of his words, were you rude to people, did you say something bad? "I don't get it, did i do something wrong?" You asked, but the way he shakes his head proved you wrong, "No! Of course not! You were amazing, Sunshine! It's just, you were smiling and happy and nice and sweet to them, and..." he paused, fingers fiddling together as he tries to think of what else to say in order to convey his emotions, but it all only ended with "No!" "..no?"

He nods, hands enclosed together to form fists, only for it to be shaken up and down in a way a little kid would be if they didn't get the attention of their parents. "No more talking to people! I don't get to see you speak that way that much, it is unfair!" The sighed you just released was exhausted, though you can't exactly help but smile as you did so. It was adorable, he was adorable, this situation though frustrating - is adorable. You're just happy he's made of metal because in honesty? The urge to pinch his face would've overcame you by now. "So basically, you were mad because i was being nice to them?"

It took a while for him to realize what you said, and to actually process it. Huh, okay now that you word it like that, it actually sounds bad. ",,that's a bit of an oversimplification.." "Is it?" You asked, both hands on your hip as you give him a slight attitude, the whole situation was funny to you, especially Sunny and the way he's trying to process how maybe he's been over doing it, just a bit. "Sunray, i have always been nice to you, you know? I think you're adorable!" "I know.." "And if you need anything, you can always come to me. We can also spend time together, alright?"

The droopy animatronic sprung back to his bright energetic self, hands covering yours as he practically jumps all around now due to the recent words you've told to him. He nods, "Really?! HOORAY! In that case! Please please please just stay in the daycare with me and the kids! Oh oh! We can do finger painting, or or arts and crafts! We can play hide and seek! And-" "Sunny!" Sudden silence was created as you yelled out his name to get his attention, him freezing mid talking to hear what you have to say. "I can't stay with you all day though, alright? I still need to work."

It took exactly 0.5 seconds for him to go back to how he used to be, drooping and sighing exaggeratedly as his head hung low, you chuckled as you try to get him to stand upright. "C'mon Sunny, what's gotten into you suddenly?" It took a few seconds for him to answer, and when he eventually did, "Don't work, pleeaaseee?" As much as you wanted to, you can't, and so you shook your head, "No can do Sunlight, i need the money you know?" "Do you have to answer all those people?" "Well it is what they stationed me to do, so," "But.."

Whatever sentence is there, he didn't seem to finish it, as it trails off leaving only the sound of his mechanical whirring back. You brought his chin (?) up, making him to look at you in the eyes. "Why do you not want me to work hm? It almost makes you sound jealous," a soft laugh escaped your mouth as the painted mouth on his face would've frowned if it could. "I am not! Only bad kids are like that," "Then would you be okay if i work and talk to other people again?" "No."

Sigh.

In the end you had to compromise with him in some way, as you only laughed slightly at his insistence. It really is like trying to convince a child. "Sunny, how about this, i go to work... And then i spend my breaks in here with you?" "Oh! Really!?" You nodded, as Sunny's hands cheered again with happiness. "Alright! Hmph. I suppose.. you can talk to people again.. but don't smile as much!" The sentence caught you off guard, and you can't help the choked laugh that came out. "What? But Sunray, if I don't smile, what if they think I'm being mean?" "But you're not bullying them!" "Still, it's always polite to smile when talking to other people!" Of course he had to crossed his arms and look away, furiously grumbling as he does. "Fine... You can smile." With that sentence, you released a smile of your own furiously thanking him as you closed the distance with a hug.

You walk back to the front of the daycare where numerous people come and go, kids ran about as parents slowly follow them in the back. As it turns out, a guy who seemed to be in the same age as you approached in a very confused demeanor, hands on his phone as it seemed like he just finished calling someone. "Excuse me! Do you know where Fazerblast is? My little sister went to play with her friends and i agreed to pick her up, but i seemed to be lost." It was an easy question, you nodded and went to open your mouth to answer, only to hear the Daycare doors open.

"Why yes! Mr. Fazbear's amazing playplace would be near the main stage! You can go there if you-" "Sunny." You stopped him, tone in your voice explaining that you can handle this on your own. You went back to the man in front of you, as confused as he is due to the situation, "You can go up those stairs and go through the elevator, there should be a map bot that can guide you to the Main stage personally." You smiled. "From there, take the escalator up, Fazerblast is next to Monty Golf, the map given from Map Bot should help."

The man thanked you profusely, and you only nodded and thanked him in return for going to the Pizzaplex, not once did Sunny left your side as you look at him with both your hands on your hips. "Sunny." He looks away, avoiding your obvious gaze as he fiddles with his fingers, "Well! That's done, now we can go back into the Daycare and play!"

Oh dear, i guess putting things back on track isn't as easy as you thought.

[masterjedilenawrites]

Just Hux would be interesting. I’m convinced there’s more to him defecting from the First Order than “I hate Kylo.”But reader fics are 😍 How about some grumpy/sunshine? “Why do you stick around with a miseryguts like me?” meets “we’re two sides of the same coin, right?”Or there’s the ridiculous thing my brain did with another one of the grumpy prompts: “Don’t make a big deal out of this. You like hugs, right? so... here's a Hux.” 🤣 Whatever you do with be read happily. 💕

Okay okay... I have a multi-chapter fic in the works for Hux (still haven't decided if I'll do x reader or x OC yet). But I love the grumpy/sunshine prompts so imma whip up a one-shot in the meantime 😁

Hux x Reader | 1.6k words

It had been such a long, tiring, stupid week for Hux. You could tell by the way he held his shoulders tensely, the way his eyes zoned out when walking down long hallways. He answered questions with a sigh instead of a scoff. He hadn't been seen anywhere near the mess hall for quite some time. And you'd caught at least a dozen errors in the reports he filed for your department. What a long week, indeed.

And it was only Monday.

Such times were not infrequent for the General, unfortunately, but he always sought solace from you. Without fail, he'd show up on the other side of your door later in the evening, hair disheveled and coat buttons undone, eyes searching yours for some kind of reassurance. You'd invite him in and pop open a bottle of wine, usually one he'd given you as a gift since you knew nothing about how to pick out a good one.

You'd let him rant and ramble, gripe and groan, until he wore himself out. Sometimes he'd leave with an awkward thank-you dancing on his tongue but never making it further into the open. Other times he'd fall asleep on your couch and you'd leave him cozied up under a spare blanket to go retire yourself. He'd be gone by the time you woke, but the next time you saw him he'd have that same look of shy gratitude.

You supposed that's why you continued to let him in. He wasn't exactly your superior, but you were sure there was a level of scandal involved with having the General of the Army drinking wine on the couch of the Chief Ordnance Supervisor every other night. You knew from his respectful attitude that he would not take advantage. He really just wanted an outlet after a long day. But you often wondered if he might be looking for something else by going to you. And it was only ever you. Maybe one of these times you'd get more from him than a reserved smile and a stammered good-night.

So it was quite surprising, and concerning, when later that night his knock never came. You paced about your quarters, unsure what else to do with yourself for the evening, wondering if he may still come and not wanting to get yourself caught up in a different task only to be interrupted from it. When the hour got too late for it to be likely that he would show, you debated what to do. Your bed looked so warm and inviting; you'd had quite the day yourself, to be fair.

But in the back of your mind, you couldn't stop seeing his terse expressions and dragging feet. You knew he'd had a rough day. You knew he needed relief. Comfort. And that nagging need to be the one to provide it for him was one you knew you wouldn't be able to quiet no matter how tired you yourself were.

So you slipped your coat back on, shoved your feet into your boots, and grabbed the bottle of wine you hadn't yet finished from his last visit. Time to find the General.

You figured of all the places he could be other than your room, it would be his office. That's presumably where he'd holed himself up in the past, before having met you. He wasn't the type to give up on a day and go to bed. No, he'd be toiling away over a stack of paperwork, pretending his problems would go away if only he thumbed through enough reports.

You only knocked once before letting yourself into his relatively small office. Your guess had been correct; Hux was there, hunched over his desk, one hand lazily swirling a glass with some kind of brown liquid and the other holding up a piece of paper. It was a sight you'd probably come across a hundred times before. But this time, knowing what you were walking into, there were some notable differences. Stray strands of ginger hair falling into his face. Eyes bloodshot and unfocused. The lamp light dimmed low and unwelcoming.

Hux glanced up as you silently entered and took a seat across from him. His gaze continued to follow your movements as you uncorked the wine bottle you'd brought and poured it into an unused glass from the mini-bar by his desk. After settling into your seat and taking a few gulps, you finally met his gaze with a little smirk.

"Rough day?"

That's how you usually started these conversations, albeit, you were usually in the comfort of your own room, tucking your feet under you as you curled up in the corner of your couch, getting ready to take whatever burdens Hux needed to dump out.

Hux sighed, finishing off his own drink and abandoning his stack of papers as he leaned backward. He grasped his empty glass in his lap, peered down into it for a second. "You don't have to be here."

"I know," you said immediately.

His eyes flicked back up to yours. "Then why are you here?"

You considered for a moment. You knew why, you just weren't sure if you should admit it. "I guess I couldn't fall asleep knowing you were out here feeling miserable all by yourself."

He scoffed a bit at that, looking back down at his glass as if considering whether he should refill it yet. "I'm not miserable, it's just... I just...."

"Had a bad day," you stated plainly, nodding at him for emphasis. "I know. I've become quite familiar with your bad days."

"Yes," he scoffed again. He seemed more annoyed at himself than anything. "Too familiar. I came to that realization when riding the lift to your floor earlier. I had only ever meant to go to you that one time, because it'd been a bad day for you, too, and I knew you'd understand. But then one time turned into... Lord, I couldn't even put a number on it. I'm afraid I've created a rather unfair arrangement for you. I didn't want to keep imposing."

He seemed to have decided while talking that he would refill his glass, so when he finished he kicked forward and began preparing another drink. You sat silent, pondering his words. You supposed it was considerate of him, to give you a break from hearing his woes. But you'd never really seen it like that. You'd never felt like you were being used or imposed upon. You'd thought... well, you'd thought you were simply being his friend.

"You aren't an imposition, Hux," you eventually said. He paused with his fingers hovering over the ice bucket. "If I didn't care about your problems, I wouldn't have even opened the door for you. And I wouldn't have come all the way down here tonight."

"But why?" he turned, exasperated, drink left forgotten on the sideboard. "Why do you stick around with a misery-guts like me? Why do you care at all?"

He was getting worked up, as he tended to with things he didn't understand, situations that he could predict or control. Breaths coming out shorter and heavier, hands clenching at his sides. You stood, instinctually reaching out to him even though you'd never shared such a touch before. Your hands rested on his arms, just above his elbows, and you squeezed just enough to hopefully ground him.

"Hux..." You faltered, unsure what to say as the awareness of your close proximity started to sink in. You'd never gone to him like this, no matter how upset he'd been in the past. What were you to say now?

"Look..." you started slowly, trusting, praying, you'd figure out the right thing to say along the way. "We're two sides of the same coin, right? We're both leaders, both under an immense amount of pressure, both with pasts we wish we could forget. You... you have to talk about it. The more you can put your problems into words, the better you understand them, the more in-control you feel over them. Me, I just work my shit out in the training gym. If I can push myself to run faster or punch harder or spar quicker... then I feel like I can handle anything outside that room. I'm okay sitting on a couch and listening to you vent. In fact, sometimes I look forward to it. Not that I like seeing you upset, I just... I want to be there for you."

"Why?"

You hadn't actually answered that question yet, had you? You'd been rambling, trying to reassure him without having to actually come out and confess why you cared. You were intensely aware of how his arms felt in your hands, the stiffness of his coat sleeves, the shape of his muscles and tendons. Why were you still holding him? You should let go. But you couldn't. You were afraid you might fall if you did.

"I... I..." you mumbled, unable to look him in the eyes any longer. Your throat suddenly felt dry. You forced down a swallow. "I don't know why. I know I care, but I don't know why. I just do."

Your hands were sliding down his arms, trying to break free but unable to pull completely away. Or maybe he was the one moving his arms, bringing his hands up to yours to clasp gently as he tried to ground himself.

"I don't know, either," he said, causing you to finally look back up at him. "Why I care, that is. But I know I do, too."

He offered a smile, easing your discomfort into a smile of your own.

"I still don't wish to impose," he continued. "Perhaps... Well, perhaps we should spend other times with each other, not just on the bad days?"

There was an uncharacteristic warmth in his eyes, one you suspected you were the only one fortunate enough to have ever seen. If you played your cards right, perhaps you'd always be the only one.

"I think that's a good idea."

~

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[nemeseos-noctua]

God I love your work so much?? You guys are amazing .

Can I request how Albedo, Xiao and Diluc react to their s/o pushing them away in attempt to keep them safe from danger? (Eg they may be the traveller who is connected with the fatui and the abyss aand therefore fears for their s/o's safety.

Tysm!! I love your guys' writing style. requesting this specifically bc it's not fair Xiao gets to be to edgy one all the time in the fics🙄 how does it feel to get pushes away now loverboy? (/j!! I love him just thought this prompt would be a neat inversion).

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: albedo, xiao, diluc (separate) x gn!reader

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: not proofread, blood, mentions albedos story (spoilers), xiao story spoilers, reader is not traveler

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒: hehe tysm!! ALSO 100% haha i LOVEEE xiao but yk he be a lil stingy when it comes to safety! i want to tuck him in and tell him it’ll be alright 😔😔

during your travels across teyvat, you have encountered far more fatui and abyss mages than you’d care to count

and some of which— had some, err, not so kind grudges against you

these grudges were so serious that you began to worry for albedo’s safety. you personally did not care for blood staining your hands nor soul—but if that blood was albedo’s... oh boy

so, coming to a conclusion... you decided on the inevitable: keep albedo at arm’s length—for your heart and his

and, it worked. for a month, it worked. your visits to his camp in dragonspine lessened, your chaste kisses and morning voice left his life like... regrettably, his master

Staring up at the whirling winds of Dragonspine, Albedo’s teal eyes trailed over the ice, wishing to see a familiar silhouette among its blizzard.

He had been counting. It has been five days, two minutes, and 54 seconds since you last visited him—

Hah, just kidding. He didn’t count—but it has been five days.

Where were you? Maybe you were busy—the alchemist knew you had a life outside of—well, him. 

It was unfair of him to be impatient, for you had been nothing short of patient towards him. But still, his heart longs and yearns for your touches, his head feels cold without your fingers twisting through his silky blonde hair. 

Dragonspine was cold, but without you, it was colder.

he’d eventually head back down to mondstadt, solely for the purpose of finding you

his mind got the best of him as he spiraled into a brief insanity. maybe he did something to make you mad? maybe you were injured, recovering without his aid? so many questions spinning around his head he almost missed the sight of your [e/c] eyes

“[Y/N]—“ Albedo’s voice cut through the crowds of Mondstadt as the alchemist rushed forward. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, desperation taking over him as he reached a hand out for you.

“Albedo...?” You stopped in your tracks, taking in the sight of your boyfriend’s unruly hair and tired eyes. His lips were still purple—as if he had come back down from Dragonspine recently.

“Where were you?” The alchemist asked, his gloved hand wrapped around your wrist delicately, his eyes scanning all over you as to check whether you were injured or not.

“Ah... I was—adventuring,” You sweatdropped, the coldness of his gloves stinging your wrist, your eyes wide at how cold he was.

he doesn’t believe you—hah. of course he doesn’t, albedo is a genius in fields he wishes to study

he knows you too well to fall for your mindless responses or excuses, he knows your eyes too well to succumb to the smile on your lips or kindness in your touch

he knows, he knows he knows he knows—so why? what are you hiding? why are you hiding? from him of all people?

everyone has secrets—albedo is aware, for he has his own share. but please, can’t you spare his heart? just this once?

“Tell me the truth, [Y/N],” Albedo asked—no, begged. He wanted to know what kept you so far from his reach, what stopped you from visiting him or loving him or just being with him. Was he the problem? Was this the end of your love?

“I...” You looked away, tugging the alchemist against the current of the crowds, seeking an area for just the two of you.

And once you found it, you pulled the blonde into a hug. The coldness of his coat didn’t faze you, nor did the way his eyes widened or the way his arms hesitantly wrapped back around you.

“I don’t want someone like you to get involved with me, Albedo. You’re...” You looked away, your face still buried into the alchemist’s shoulder. 

“... A weakness. You’re a weakness that’ll be used against me.”

albedo is in utter disbelief

he—you—what?!

he’s... your weakness?

albedo doesn’t know whether to be flattered or hurt. he knows you have a dangerous job, he knows about the amount of letters you receive threatening him or you, he knows what you’re doing is for the better...

but—he cannot allow it. he wants to hold you without regrets, he wants to kiss you and eat lunch with you at good hunter...

“[Y/N],” Albedo breathed, cupping your cheeks in the palm of his hands as he stared violently into your eyes. Gaze softening, he couldn’t bring it in himself to scold you for all the worries you brought him to.

“I promise you—that even if Fatui and Abyss Mages disrupt my alchemy, I promise that I want to get involved with you—I, I want to be with you.”

His heart, it wants so much, it wants to have you, it wants to love you.

So please—won’t you let him do that? 

xiao also has many people out for his throat

well, i suppose... the difference between those ‘people’ and your ‘people’ is the fact that xiao’s debts are owed to the dead

the whispers, the screams, the agony. it plagues every part of his mind, like a melody with no beat, like an endless tune that he will hear for the rest of time

and you—you’re like, the charm. the ward and sigil that scares away all of those demons. you’re the sunshine that seeps through the cracks of caves

and now... you’re drifting. like a ship at sea, he wonders... will you be back?

regrettably—you think—maybe, maybe... you won’t return

What is this? The third week Xiao has sat atop the roof of Wangshu Inn? Hoping mindlessly to hear your steps up the staircase?

Hah. Is this who he has become? An adeptus who waits for a mortal like you to come, an adeptus who should be defending Liyue, and yet, here he is.

he’s a bit... put off

like. who are you to make him feel this way, mortal? (derogatory) 

he doesn’t want to admit it... but... he misses you. there! he said it. he misses you. now can you come back, please?

he knows, he knows he is not the best lover... that he is blunt, enigmatic, and sometimes... rude. but— but you, you accept him for that

and he ponders atop the roof of wangshu inn—perhaps, was this ignoring scheme long overdue? have you finally grown tired of him and all of his karma? have you found someone better—someone you can love you, hold you, and care for you like you deserve?

he hopes—the answer is no

but he knows... the answer is probably yes

“Oh, [Y/N]! You’re back!” Verr Goldet’s hushed voice ran through the adeptus mind as his form shot up almost instantly. Staring down from his position on the roof, his yellow eyes stared over at your familiar form, your [e/c] eyes and vision that dangled from your hip.

“Haha, sorry about that.” 

You smiled, but Xiao didn’t miss the way you winced upon doing so. Your arms and legs were wrapped with bandages, dried splotches of red and clothing as messy as could be.

“Your room is upstairs, sleep well,” Verr Goldet nodded knowingly, a bittersweet grin on her face as her mind flickered to the thought of Xiao and his shortening temper.

once you step out onto the balcony, you do not need to look to see who has appeared beside you

“Hello, Xiao!” You say openly, arms outstretched for a hug as the adeptus merely stared at you. Three weeks. Three weeks without you, three weeks too many—and here you were, opening your arms like you had just returned back from an hour long trip.

“ . . . “ Staying silent, Xiao could only cross his arms, glaring at you with mixed emotions. He was relieved to see you back and ‘happy’, but still, he was frustrated and irritated at the way you behaved so recklessly.

“You owe me an expla—“

“—nation,” You finished for the male, an exasperated smile gracing your features as you turned over to the balcony, the setting moon and proud stars soaring like the birds of Mondstadt.

“I was... dealing with some encounters,” Your tone was laced with a malice even he wasn’t expecting, the number of bandages scouring your skin finally making sense as his eyes narrowed into slits.

“Fatui? Tell me where they are, I wi—“

“No.”

Turning over to him fully, Xiao’s breath hitched. Ugh, again—you and your pretty smile and charming features. The simplest things you do made him go insane like the karmic debts that flourished through his mind.

“You can’t get involved, Xiao. They will only go after you. I returned here today to tell you that I’ll be going off for three month—“

“What?” The Yaksha breathed in disbelief. Did he hear right? Were you seriously leaving again?! 

“I said, I am leaving again... Xiao. It’s not you—Celestia no... it’d never be you. It’s just...” You looked around, to anywhere, anyone but him. If you glanced at him now, chances are you’d succumb to his sunny eyes and stay back at Wangshu Inn. 

“... The Fatui. I got on their wanted list and—I don’t want them to use you against me. So I’ll go out and get rid of them, and I’ll be ba—“

“No.”

It was his turn to decline, for he didn’t want to hear anything you had to say. You got on the Fatui’s wanted list?! What?! He...

He was going to kill them. 

“Do you think I am weak, [Y/N]? Eons of slaughter and—“ 

“Xiao!” You facepalmed, raising your voice slightly at the male as he blinked, taken aback that you, a mortal would ever thing of committing such a heinous crime towards a divine being like him.

“You’re not weak! It’s just... I’m weak. And if they find you, they could just threaten me with everything they’d do to you! Even if nothing happened at all...” Your voice died down, your heart hammering against your chest as Xiao’s eyes softened.

Xiao was—speechless. He didn’t know what to say, what to do. Nobody had ever thought of him so kindly before, neither have they ever treated him as something other than a weapon of war.

So, he vowed. Like the night Rex Lapis found him all those millennia ago, like the night he broke free from the chains of manipulation—he vowed, time and time again—

“I will protect you, [Y/N]. For there is no need to protect me.”

[internal screaming]

diluc, of all people, no longer is afraid of ‘grudges’ or ‘debts’ owed to the fatui or abyss order. he dances with evil, masquerading each night for his life

and now, the only light in his world full of darkness, the only fire in the cold icy winds...

left

you left. you left with a little note saying you’d be back in what—five months?

a part of him was... shocked. it was surprised at how abrupt it was. one moment, the two of you were laying in bed, cradling each others’ forms. and the next? you were gone

the other part of him was... worried. did you want to leave him? what was this about? did you owe debt to the fatui? you could’ve told him, he would’ve payed for it all in a heartbeat

but diluc of mondstadt—hah, he was not known for stepping down so easily. so until he figures out why you left so suddenly, he is not stopping his search for the truth

and once he so happens to run into lumine and asks the traveler where you’ve been—he’s shocked

at first, he thinks lumine must me mistaken. what? what do you mean “[y/n] is heading out to fight the abyss herald”, you’re kidding... haha...

(lumine swore she saw her life flash before her eyes when diluc wrapped his head around the news)

diluc feels a bit... guilty. he feels guilty that he didn’t know sooner, he feels guilty that the abyss order is bothering you like how it bothers him, he feels guilty for everything

Wiping some blood that spilled from the corner of your mouth, you grimaced at the metallic taste. 

What was it? Err... day five? This was the first Abyss Herald you have encountered so far, and you could only assume it was the first of many.

Standing up, you sheathed your weapon. Your vision glowed brightly in the darkness of the ruins, the moon illuminating the way out as you sighed, pulling yourself across the stone cold floor.

As you trudged outside and into the moonlight, a twig cracked under a foot that wasn’t yours, prompting you to reach out and materialize your weapon, charging it with power from your vision.

“Who?”

Stepping out from the trees, your eyes widened at a sight you hadn’t expected to see—at least, expected to see this soon.

“Diluc?” You breathed, heaving a sigh of relief as the male took no notice to your words, instead, his vermilion eyes traced over your battered form, his eyes worrying even more with each glance he spared.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked, rushing up to you as he pulled out some bandages, wrapping them around your wounds so he could get you back to the winery.

pushing yourself away from his grasp, diluc watched in hurt as you kept him away from your figure

“i couldn’t—i didn’t want you to get involved,” you mumbled guiltily, looking away from the male as his eyes seemed to berate you silently

“me involved? what do you mean?” diluc asks in disbelief. he of all people should be the one telling you that

“the abyss. i got in a tumble with them and now they’re after my blood,” you murmured, only causing diluc’s heart to pound even louder in his chest, his brain flickering to unpleasant memories as he rushed up to you, securely placing his hands on your shoulders

He’s... speechless. He doesn’t know what to say, what to do. He’s usually the one keeping people at arms-length—yet here you were, stealing his lines and his worries.

“I...” Diluc paused, trying to form words, and yet, nothing came to mind.

“...”

Silence. It filled the ambience and your hearts, yet, it was not the same silence in the abyss, nor was it the same silence before a nightmare.

It was a silence of awe, a silence that you’d hear before a firework would shoot up in the sky—it was calming, a relaxing wave like a seashell pressed against your ear.

A silent love—like the one you and Diluc shared. An unsung melody that played in the beat of your hearts, the breaths of the wind...

A silent promise, like a marriage or a confession, a promise to—

“I will be by your side, [Y/N]. No matter what.”

Through thick and thin, cold and warm, there is nothing but you two, two lovers against the darkness, dancing with ghosts and evil.

— constellations! 💫

[be-ready-when-i-say-go]

Anklets and Necklaces

Inspired by this tweet.

@5-secondsofcolor I’m not sorry.

Female Reader insert. NSFW Content (18+). My smut writing is hella rusty. So I do apologize, whoops.

_______________

Calum plays at the anklet, spinning it around and around her joint as her legs are crossed and resting in his lap. The gold jewellry is hardly ever taken off since he gave it to her. In return, she gifted him a chain with a tiny pendant with her initial etched into the back of it. The front of it is an arrowhead. He wears it so often now, that when it’s off, he feels a little incomplete. It’s an easy gesture to carry her everywhere with him.

“Okay we gotta decide what to eat for lunch like now or I’m going to get hangry,” she states.

Calum glances up from his phone, to see her still scrolling on hers. “Oh no. Not hangry,” he teases. But he knows she means it. Her warnings have about a thirty minute window, just enough for a delivery if they get something simple. Or if they want something more complicated, they need to find a snack now while the main course is cooking. “What do you want? Thai? Mexican?”

“Would you hate me if I said I really just wanted nuggets from McDonalds?”

The pout on her lips makes him laugh, “No, I could never. Usual then?”

“Yes, please.”

Stretching across the length of her, Calum pushes his lips together, trying to ask for a kiss. She laughs in return and squeezes his cheeks. “Be lucky you’re cute,” she states before lifting up slightly to meet his lips. “And squishy.”

“Ain’t nothing on me squishy,” he huffs, straightening back up to put her order into the app.

She sets her phone down on her stomach, gazing up over the sharp line of his jaw that his plump cheeks sit atop. And while it’d be easy to return with a poke and a verbal jab about his cheeks, she just watches him. His fingers deftly work over the screen. The white tank sits as a stark contrast to the depth and glow of his skin. “I think all the right things on you are squishy.”

“Yeah, what are those?”

“Your cheeks. And as much as you and your trainer kick your ass, I know happy weight when I see it.”

Calum grins, a chuckle shaking through him as he sets his phone down on the arm of the couch--the order completed on his end. He pinches at her thighs. “Take that back.”

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think I will. I like it--just like I like my cookies. Hard on the edges gooey in the middle.”

Standing for just a moment to let her legs fall onto the couch, Calum kneels onto the cushion, hovering above her. Her eyes glitter just a little as she talks and the soft easy smile on her face lets him know that it’s all out of love--what’s she’s saying. The pads of his fingers run along the side of her thigh. “Be lucky I love you.”

“I am already lucky, so say what you gotta say. Roast me, my love. It’s not like we don’t do that anyways.”

And truth be told, Calum had no response. Not when he looks at her, because God all he sees is the person that’s been with him on his bad mental days. She’s been there when Calum was sure there was no lower low or higher high. And what do you say to that person that’s been there, seen all of you that there is to see? With a gentle and chaste kiss, Calum settles for silence.

“Cat got your tongue now, huh?”

This--this Calum can respond too. It’s all too easy. “I know what else my tongue can have.”

“I know something your tongue can have too.”

“Really now?” Calum asks, dragging his fingers over the top of her thigh and tracing the line of her lounge shorts. “Food will be here in fifteen minutes though. So that’s up to you.”

“Not nearly enough time to savor it. Besides,” she starts and takes a pause. Her lips pull into a side smile and Calum knows what that means. One brow quirks in anticipation and Calum watches her. The silence settles for a little too long.

“Besides what?” he prompts again.

“Besides, I need the mail to be delivered first.”

“What did you buy?”

“You’ll see later. I promise. It’s really not even supposed to be used for lingerie. But I’ve wanted these for a long time and I specifically have a set I’m trying to complete.”

There’s the black mesh set that she’s slowly been building out. The main piece came in weeks ago, at this point it might even be months ago that that came in. He was privy to it then and gave it the christening that it deserved. But there wasn’t any other lingerie set that needed expansion. Not at least to his recalling. “Which one is it?”

“I’m not saying.”

“Oh please,” he whines, dropping his head into her neck. His lips softly and slowly seal kisses into her warm skin.

“No, Calum. I’ve been waiting on this package for weeks. It got held up in customs and I-” she sighs at his lips sucking at her skin. Not hard enough to cause a bruise, but just enough to make her spine tingle. “You’re going to have to do better than that.”

Calum pushes up, with a huff, sitting back down on the opposite end of the couch. “This is killing me, you know?”

“Well, you ain’t dead yet. So I think you can tough it out for a little bit longer.”

“Begrudgingly--I want you to know that.”

She sits up, swinging her feet to the floor. “Your sacrifice will be duly noted. The mail will be here before you know it.” The couch releases her weight and Calum watches her pad into the kitchen. “Do you want anything?” she calls.

“I’m good,” he returns, knowing that he will be counting down the seconds until the mail comes. She returns with a glass of water, sitting back down on the couch, but bringing her feet up underneath her as she motions to the TV. “You watching that?”

Calum answers with a shrug. He wasn’t anymore. He originally turned it on mostly for the weather and some news. He found himself bored and flipping through channels before settling on the sports channel while he took care of Duke in the morning. Noise to fill the space since his brain needed the distraction. He hadn’t slept all that great the last few nights, decent sleep. The closer and closer the band got to putting out music the more his nerves kicked in--sometimes they were sneaky. The nerves come up faster than Calum had anticipated. And right now, they won the first round. But Calum was working hard to combat them so he could get about his daily life.

“Go crazy,” he finally verbally responds. And she picks up the remote, changing channels too fast for Calum to even understand how you could process what was on before decking it was a no. She eventually settles for HGTV--not quite caring what show was on. 

The first knock that comes to the door is the food that Calum ordered for the two of them. He answers it, popping up in the hopes it’s the mail. When it’s not, he sighs just a little but places the bag down onto the coffee table. “Your nugs, my queen,” he teases.

“Thank you, my good sir,” she returns with a grin, opening before divvying out what is for who. “You wouldn’t have happened to shot up like a bat outta hell because you wanted that to be the mail?”

Calum feels the heat in his cheeks, but bumps her shoulder gently. “No, why would I ever want that?”

“Oh I don’t know,” she scoffs in return, dunking a nugget into the sweet and sour sauce. They share a soft bout of laughter before turning their gaze back to the TV. Duke’s paws click as he ventures into the kitchen for a drink of water from his bowl. The lapping and splash of his tongue echoing just slightly as the screen goes dark between the show and the commercial break.

Calum lifts his gaze, taking in the soft angle of her jaw. She curls up around the carton of fries, eyes glued to the screen. Does she even have the slightest clue what she does to him? It’s not even the involved things like dressing up for him, or comforting him. It’s just her, when she’s munching on fries. Or when she sleepily walks behind Duke in the mornings. It’s when she hums as she cooks. It’s the dancing she does when she’s cleaning. It’s the pouts when she messes up on something and her brow furrows in as the determination settles onto her face.

It’s when she fucked up a birthday cake for him once--not greasing the sides of the pan enough and then adding a tad too much milk--called him crying about it and then in a minute flat resolved to make him brownies instead. Because she said she’d be damned if she didn’t make him something sweet to nibble on or pass along to the guys. And Calum’s not even that much of a sweets guy, which she knew, so she only settled on giving him half the batch she made. She, of course, saved the other half for her and her friends.

And it’s just the moments that she’s not even trying that makes Calum melt. Like when she paints her nails, she offers to do his first. Or when she lays down next to Duke, and in their shared silence, they seem to communicate everything with each other.

“I love you,” he states.

She turns, eyes widening for a second before grinning around her sip of iced tea. “I love you.” Her brows furrow just a little. “You okay? You’ve hardly touched your food.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.”

“If you didn’t want McDonalds, I could’ve done something else. Literally anything else,” she continues on almost as if she hadn’t heard him.

“It’s not the food,” he giggles. Calum reaches out to caress her cheek. “I’m okay.”

She nods. “Okay.”

“I just love you, that’s all. Wanted to share it with you.”

Her grin is soft as it lifts her lips. “Good because you’re not getting rid of me that easy.”

“I wouldn’t dare dream of getting rid of you.”

Another silence envelopes them. Calum finishes his food and takes the empty containers to the trash. Another episode starts up from the speakers and just above it, he hears the chime of his phone. “Do you want me to screen it for you?”

“Yes please!” If it’s one of the guys, they won’t mind her answering. If it’s someone important, he doesn’t want to miss the call.

“Calum’s phone,” she answers but he can already hear her feet shuffling to him in the kitchen. “Okay, Ash. I’ll keep that in mind.” Her voice comes closer and Calum shakes his hands just a little to get rid of the excess water before drying them. “No, I can’t say what it is without taking a look. Did you use the soil I recommended last time?” Another pause comes from her and when Calum turns, he finds her leaning up the kitchen counter, phone halfway pulled down but not fully away from her ear. “Yeah, I definitely think you should consider changing soils. But I can take a better look tomorrow for you. I’m going to pass along the phone now.”

She hands the phone over. “He said it was important.”

“Thank you,” Calum says in a whisper, pressing a kiss to her forehead and then placing the phone to his ear. “Yeah, Ash?”

Calum’s not even sure how long the conversation goes on. At first, it is important information that Ashton’s trying to confirm--a date and time for a meeting that they had later in the week. He says he wrote it down where he writes down all their meetings but it’s not there. And Ashton’s trying to make sure that he doesn’t miss it. So Calum shuffles to his office and verifies in his calendar the time for the meeting.

But then the conversation diverges--they start talking about everything and anything. So much so, they’re laughing. Calum doesn’t even hear the knock at the front door. But he does notice her scurrying off into the bedroom. The door closes with a soft click. Duke comes trailing after her but notices the closer door and then keeps down the hall to the office. Calum reclines back in his seat trying to get another angle at the door. But it’s closed fully.

“You okay, gramps?” Calum asks Duke.

“Oh fuck off, mate!” Ashton laughs.

“Not you, you fucking egg. Duke--I was talking to Duke.”

“Oh!” Ashton giggles. “Sorry, I thought you was trying to talk shit.”

“I don’t have to try and do that to you.”

“Oi, don’t start something bro.” The two of them laugh and Calum bends down to scratch behind Duke’s ears. “Alright, thanks for confirming that meeting. I’ll see you tomorrow in the studio?”

“Yeah--bright and early. Talk to you later.” The call ends and when Calum spins around in his desk chair, his jaw drops as she steps out from the bedroom. It’s not exactly something new--as in something that she’s never worn before. But it doesn’t mean he ever gets tired of seeing her like this.

The white bustier pushes her breasts up and almost over the cups. And he travels the look down, taking in the baby blue skirt, fishnet knee highs. And he goes back up, taking in a black strap wrapping around her thighs. She notes the lustful gaze and steps right on the line of the threshold to the door.

“So,” Calum starts, trailing his gaze down and then back up to her face. “Not the black lingerie I was anticipating.”

“No, I’m waiting for the heels I want for that lingerie to go on sale. Besides, you didn’t like the collar I liked so I’m still searching.”

“It wasn’t that I didn’t like it. It’s just too similar to one we already bought.”

“You’re right, but still.”

Calum cracks a smile at the reluctant confession. “But enough about that. This--this is a cute outfit.”

She nods, smoothing out the pleated mini skirt. “It’s less about the outfit and more about these,” she says, tapping at the thin black band.

“And those are?” Calum asks. It’s one step closer into the room and Calum think he can make out a heart shaped metal loop in the middle of it. She takes a second step closer and Calum can see clearly it’s some sort of thigh garter--leather or something related as the material. “Oh,” he breathes.

She continues slowly to approach Calum and when she’s just in arms reach, she lifts the skirt up. It goes up inch by inch and Calum’s entranced. Watching more of her thighs revealed to him. And soon it’s black panties--mesh and if Calum remembers correctly crotchless. But wrapped around her waist is another band of leather. Two pieces hook to another metal hoop right on her hip bones and then one trip connects the top piece to the bottom.

“A harness garter belt--what do you think?” she asks in a whisper.

Calum exhales, desire stirring in the pit of his stomach. He reaches out, wrapping his fingers around her thighs and pulling her into him. He kisses in the spaces between the leather, gingerly, lips hardly touching her skin. “I think you look beautiful,” he hums, dropping his head on his neck to look up at her.

Her eyes are still closed and Calum softly runs the tips of his fingers up her thigh, tracing the lines of the harness. With a deep exhale, she finally blinks back to reality. “Not too silly?”

His brows meet in the middle of his face. Why would she think it’s too silly? There’s nothing silly about her standing in front of him, clearly excited about her own purchase. “Angel--I’ll be damned if I ever think this is silly.”

Swinging her leg over and settling onto his lap, she grins. “Thank you, love.”

Calum holds onto her hips, rubbing his palms down to her ass. “So you said this technically isn’t lingerie?”

“No--I don’t think so. But I think they could be--a small accessory to something I already have.”

They share a kiss, much too quick for Calum’s liking so he pulls her back in for more. And her arms wind around his neck as he continues to palm her ass. Here, he doesn’t really care what it is technically or not. She looks absolutely amazing. “I like it. In fact,” Calum starts, moving to grip her thighs before housing them both up and then plopping her down on the desk. “I really like them.”

Calum stands between her legs, nose brushing and bumping against hers. Here, she can feel her core aching as Calum’s fingers trail closer and closer to her heat. It’s feather light--his touch, but it makes her feel electric all the same. “Cal,” she hums.

“Yes baby?”

There’s nothing that comes out of her mouth but a small huff, a rushed and harsh exhale at the feeling of his fingers dancing across her skin. He grins pulling back just a little to see the way her face goes slack, almost as if she’s at peace with him between her legs.

“Was there something you wanted to say, darlin’?” Calum tries again, taking just a half step back away from her.

With her eyes still closed, she smiles. “I want to know,” she starts, exhaling softly to counter the thud of her heart in her chest, “if you’d so kindly want to make love to me?”

Calum can’t help his own small tuft of laughter. “Darlin’, I’d do so happily.” They don’t always wind up in bed like this--but it’s nice, to be comfortable even to be this forward with this and this open.

Calum takes her hand as she hops down from the desk. “Give me a twirl,” he asks. She obliges, turning in a circle for Calum, punctuating the back view by lifting her skirt up. “Silly girl,” Calum laughs, giving a firm but playful tap to her ass.

Facing Calum again, she wraps her arms around his torso. “But you love it.”

“I do. I love you.”

They share another kiss and she slowly walks backwards out of the room. They get lost in each other--Calum in the way she fits against him and her in the way Calum holds her, palms spanning across her back and tight enough that she wonders if he thinks she’s going to disappear but gently enough at the same time that she’d love nothing more than staying here forever in his hold.

Calum finds the zipper to the top and slowly drags it down. The material exhales, slowly falling away from her body and when it falls to the floor, he kisses her neck, down to the swell of her breast. Her moans are soft, just above a hum that makes just enough noise for him to hear. And it goes right to his gut.

Here there's very little need for words. When Calum gives, she takes happily. But when she tugs at his hair, Calum knows to step back, lets her give something to him. Her kisses are soft against his skin, but make him feel like it’s being set on fire. One that he’d happily stay in, let the blaze consume every inch of him, if it meant that she was always the one to take him.

His shirt goes to join hers. Her mouth teases his nipples as she descends further down on him. Calum thinks he sighs, all he can do is just shut his eyes and let go into the feeling of her teasing the cut of his hips beneath the sweatpants. She’s always like this, teasing him. At first, it used to annoy him. But now he loves it, loves just how close she’s willing to push him to the edge, push his buttons but always delivering at the end of it.

Her meticulous work, to watch him jump at every scratch of her nails and nip of her teeth, is enjoyable. But Calum blinks open his eyes to cup her jaw, which stops her. When her gaze lifts, Calum motions for her to stand. “Yes?” she grins standing to her full height.

Calum presses their foreheads together. “I missed you.”

“Well how dare I keep a man like you waiting?” With a slow kiss, tongues just barely dancing, Calum walks the two of them to the bed. The back of her knees hit the edge of it and she buckles just a little. Calum catches her from falling. “Turn around,” he whispers into her ear, “please.”

The instruction is obeyed and she spins to face the bed. Calum finds the zipper to the powder blue skirt and almost doesn’t want to take it off her. In the end, he does-- Calum lets the skirt fall onto a pool at their feet. Without even prompting she falls to her hands, ass grinding against his hips. He traces her spine with the pads of his fingers, following all the way down, over the curve of her ass and down to the opening in the panties. His fingers gather a bit of her arousal.

“Oh,” he groans. “So wet for me,” he hums with approval.

“Always for you,” she sighs. Calum teases her clit--a featherlight touch as he dances over her core. She lets herself fall a little bit more into the mattress--another moan leaving her lips when Calum takes one finger down from her clit to teasing her entrance.

Calum pulls away, bring his wet fingers to his lips and sucking them clean. “Taste just like heaven,” he hums. He gingerly guides her back to standing and uses her hips to get her to face him again.

More kisses are shared before they fall onto the mattress. Calum takes hold of one of the straps around her thigh and tugs her down, closer to him and she laughs. It gets caught off and morphed into a moan as Calum’s tongue licks a wide stripe up her. He’s careful of the mesh material of her panties, but knows that carefulness won’t last long. Not when her arousal coats his tongue. Not when her nails scratch over the muscles of his shoulders or tangle into the curls on his head.

She melts under the work of his mouth. The mattress merely becoming the vessel to hold the mess she’s bound to make and become. The room echoes the moans and slurps. Fingers gripping at the sheet, she chants Calum’s name. His tongue working magic over her core and just when she thinks she couldn’t possibly handle anything more, she notices the stretch at the addition of his fingers.

“Fuck,” she whines, lifiting one leg and he slips in even deeper, curling his fingers and hitting just the right spot.

Calum hungers for her pleasure--the high-pitched whine and groan as she releases. Some days it’s just the sound he needs to ground him. She gives short and breathless huffs, and quivers underneath him. “Gonna be a good girl?” Calum asks, fingers still pumping at her.

“Yes, oh yes, I will.”

“Gonna cum for me?”

“I want to, yes I’ll come for you. Make me your good girl.” Her voice sounds far away, as if she’s not fully cognizant of what she’s saying. Not quite babbling, but definitely talking so fast words bump into each other and slur together.

Calum grins, sucking at her clit again and she groans, head throwing back against the pillows. Her toes are curling--her whole body growing warmer with the passing second. The heat coils in her lower gut and she’s pleading. Though, she’s not sure who she is really meaning to plead to, but she wants to cum so badly.

Then it finally happens, one moment she’s sure she’s nearly in tears and the next, the coil snaps. She squeezes, hips raising off the bed and Calum continues to ride out her orgasm, gently pressing her back down into the bed. She hisses and starts to push at his shoulders, the signal that it’s too much. So Calum places one last kiss to her clit before pulling away from her glistening core.

Beneath him, eyes fluttering close, she looks angelic. Calum holds himself up above her and just watches the way she tries to collect her breath. “You’re beautiful, you know?” he whispers, not wanting to shatter the silence.

“No kidding?” she teases, winding her arms around his neck. The necklace dangles just a little in her face and she takes one hand to trace the chain. Hooking her fingers into it, she tugs Calum down to her. The taste of her arousal on Calum’s tongue makes her head spin. Calum caresses her side and stomach as the kiss deepens. Here is all they need--the soft and deep kisses, the moans that they swallow from each other.

Her hands leave from around his neck and begin to push down his sweatpants and underwear. And he lets her, even pulls back to kneel on his knees as she sits up. Their kiss hardly breaks and she’s quick to tug the cotton material down, hands wrapping around his length.

He groans at the squeeze--nothing too hard just enough pressure to make his whole body ignite. Her hand pumps him, once, then twice slowly and teasing him. “Baby,” he sighs, relishing the feeling of her hands working over him. The stay like that only for a minute or two before Calum pauses her to step down and full disrobe.

When he climbs back onto the bed, he crawls over her. “Welcome back, handsome,” she greets.

“Oh, it’s so good to be back,” he returns, grinning.

She runs her fingers over the tattoos decorating his chest, out of habit, out of something to ground her for a moment. There’s no way he’s real and it shouldn’t ever shock her like this. But sometimes it sneaks up on her and the realization of how madly in love she is with his man hits her all over again.

“What are you thinking about?” Calum asks.

“How much I love you,” she answers softly.

“I love you too,” he returns, bending down to kiss her. It’s soft and sweet--the kiss. For a moment, they just inhale the breaths of the other. It’s a tender moment, one that neither one wants to interrupt, so they let it linger, smiling at each other. She stretches up to kiss him, one hand trailing between their bodies and Calum catches the hint all too quickly when she traces along his length.

“I haven’t forgotten, love,” he exhales in a breathy laugh. “Trust me, I could never forget.” Once lined up, Calum’s slow to sink into her. One, he wants to drag this out, enjoy every inch of him that she grips of him. And two, because he wants to make sure that even in the lull that she’s ready to take him.

Her head falls back, hair pushing into the pillow and neck exposing itself to him. A tempting sight but Calum loses himself in the feeling of her wetness. He’s slow, pulling out just a bit before sinking further back into her. Her sighs and words of encouragement are soft from beneath him but they fuel him.

The pace quickens and both of them groan at the ecstasy. Out of reflex, she lifts one leg to readjust her hip flexor and Calum brings it up, resting her ankle on his shoulder. He kisses over the joint and the anklet, savoring just how much of her he can feel like this.

The chain dangles in her face, brushing in the valley of her breast and she revels in the feeling of Calum reaching the full depths of her body. She digs her nails into his flesh, more curses falling from her lip. But some of them get lost in the groans that win out. “God,” she huffs. “You’re everywhere.” And though it’s a bit of strain to get the words out because Calum’s pace is relentless as he snaps his hips into hers, she pushes the words out.

“You always take me so well,” he praises, watching the way her face contorts. “Oh, so soon, love? You’re going to cum again for me so fucking soon, like a good girl.”

Her whine slips out first but she nods, feeling the coil tightening yet again in her lower abdomen. Her body is hot, and she can already feel the prickle of sweat on her forehead. “Please, baby, please,” she begs.

“As you wish,” he hums, his own orgasm approaching faster than he anticipated. His body humming as the warmth spreads. The bed rocks just a little, hitting the wall and the sounds echo around them as they sigh and moan to each other. But the only thing that really matters to them, is each other.

“Fuck, baby,” he whispers, voice straining as she orgasms. No noise comes from her, but her mouth opens like if she had the breath she’d definitely be screaming his name. This time the quakes last longer, her whole body shaking. “You’re okay, you’re okay,” he hums, bumping his nose against her jaw, still riding through her orgasm.

“Shit, oh my god,” she shudders, wrapping her arms around his neck.

There’s a slight hiss when Calum moves again, and he kisses over her face, starting with her nose and then moving to her cheeks. Another quake takes her and Calum, not anticipating it, groans-- his orgasm now right on the edge. It won’t be much longer, but she nibbles at his earlobe. “Thank you,” she whispers. “Made me feel so fucking good. I want you to cum in me. So fucking deep,” she hums.

And while Calum’s trying to get his own rebuttal to the tip of his tongue, she squeezes around him. “Fuck,” he yelps just a little, his body erupting with his orgasm. His body shudders and he’s so blindsided by the feeling, his slips just a little, more of his weight settling onto her than usual.

She doesn’t say anything, just hums at the feeling of him succumbing to the pleasure. “Oh, that’s what I wanted,” she encourages. It leaves her throat like a purr and Calum shivers again at the sound.

They lay together, for a moment, her nails scratching lightly at the muscles in his back. Calum sinks into her, body going heavy. Her slight shift squeezes around him and he groans, sensitive. “Don’t--I can’t,” he laughs.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to.” Even her own voice sounds heavy and slurred. She kisses his temple and Calum pushes up. He’s slow to pull out, enjoying the drips that follow of his own release spilling out of her. With one finger he gently scopes it back up and into her. The familiar twinge of desire pulls at his lower gut and it’s almost enough. She even shivers, but Calum watches the way her eyes stay closed.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Sleepy now,” she returns.

“Let’s get cleaned up first and then we can nap.” His voice sounds farther away towards the end of the sentence and she assumes he went to the attached bathroom. The rush of water from the sink confirms it. Something wet and warm presses against her--no doubt Calum with a warm washcloth.

The clean up is swift as both of them share a shower and then under the sheets, they curl up around each other. Calum kisses the top of her head as she nuzzles in closely. “I want pancakes after our nap,” she mutters.

“I think we still have some blueberries.”

She pops up onto her elbow and grins a little. “It’s like you can read my mind.”

Calum laughs. “Maybe just a little bit.”

[danielxricciardo]

Hello! This is bit complicated prompt😅 though I read all your shots and I cannot imagine any write who can do this 🤩

Can you do one where Daniel is in middle of race and his wife is pregnant but have very delicate one though she insist on watching the race even though Daniel was very worried about her. Middle of race, her wife had a scare and brought at clinic, i just want to imagine Daniel in the radio when he heard the news. Also if you could include other drivers that got concerned for Daniel🏎🏎🏎

Summary: You have a high-risk pregnancy and during a race, you faint

Warnings: swearing

Word count: 1.2k

You don’t think anything prepares you for a high-risk pregnancy. Morning sickness started within days of conception, you were vomiting pretty much every day. You felt no movements until your 20-week ultrasound - turned out you had an anterior placenta, meaning that the placenta was at the front, masking your baby girl's kicks and rolls. You were on aspirin to help keep your blood pressure down, due to your previous hypertension and pre-eclampsia fears.

Daniel was a saint. He helped you in any way he could. But it still was rough. The constant traveling and the stress from his racing were all too much for you, but you wanted to be strong for your little family. You two wanted this child with your whole heart. Especially considering the fact this was your second pregnancy. Your second pregnancy ended in a miscarriage at 8 weeks. Utterly devastating; sent you into the worst depression you've ever experienced.

Your family and friends were always checking on you. They were worried for your health and the little girl's health too. When you were at a race, everyone would ask you if you need anything and you were not allowed to stay up on your feet for a long time.

"I need to go in a few, baby," Daniel tells you, kneeling in front of you. "Need anything?"

You smile and caress his cheek.

"I'm ok."

"Michael is here and he'll keep an eye on you, ok? Tell him if you need anything."

"I know. It's the same as the last race. And the race before," you tell him laughing and then you kiss him.

You loved the way he wanted to make sure you are fine. You were now entering your 30-week of pregnancy and he was extra careful now. Sometimes you were begging him to go to practice. You hated the fact he was under so much stress because of you, but it was not your fault you were having a high-risk pregnancy.

"Be careful, baby, ok?" he asked and you could see in his eyes the desperation.

"I'm supposed to say that..."

It was the Russian Grand Prix. Daniel qualified P5 and it was set to be a pretty chill race. Everybody in the Renault garage was sure your boyfriend can defend his position with ease.

Michael came near you, handing you a bottle of water. You accept the water bottle and take a sip.

It was already halfway through the race and Daniel had kept his position. You were happy to see that he manages and he feels good behind the wheel. But you were 7 months pregnant and you needed to go to the bathroom. You heard Daniel needs to come in the pits to switch to hards so you figured it was now a good time to go to the bathroom.

"Hey," you get Michael's attention. "I'm going to the bathroom real quick, ok?"

"Want me to go with you?" you shoot him a stare. "You know what I meant, Y/N."

"I'm fine, really, I just need to pee."

Maybe it was the rapid way you got up from the chair, but you got dizzy and fainted. The feeling you get when you pass out is a weird one. It's like you know you’re about to lose consciousness, but you’re powerless to stop it. You start hearing like a whirring sound, then your vision gets blurry, your heart feels heavy, breathing becomes increasingly more difficult, then finally you lose control of your body. Everything just went kinda black after that, the only thing you remember is the sound your head made when you fell on the ground. You tried your best to fight it, but you only got more exhausted the harder you tried to remain conscious.

Without you being able to know, everyone around you became frantic. It was almost like they forgot about Daniel coming into the pits, but his race engineer told him something unexpected happened and to come to pits later.

"Ok, copy that," he tells via radio. "What happened anyway?"

"Don't worry about it, Daniel, pit in next lap."

Silence fell over the radio.

"It's Y/N?"

Again, the driver was met with silence and he became anxious with every second. He made up his mind. He will go to the pits the next lap and will retire the car. He can't race knowing his girlfriend, that has a high-risk pregnancy, isn't feeling well.

So that's what he did. His race engineer kept telling him to just do another lap, but he stopped his car into the pits and the race was over for him.

After a while, the drivers started to ask their race engineers what happened with Daniel because he was still out of the race. They got the same answer 'he retired the car'. And everybody knows that Daniel will retire the car only if you are not feeling well. So, the next logical question the drivers asked was 'is Y/N ok?' but there was no answer to that.

You were in the medical center. You were awake now. The doctor was doing a lot of tests on you to determine what caused the sudden blood pressure drop from your usual 120/70 to 90/55. You just wanted to know if the baby is fine, and you were assured that there was nothing life-threatening for the little girl. Michael was staying with you and you were relieved to go through such a fright with someone you loved with you.

You were free to go when Daniel came into the room. At first, you didn't understand what was happening. Daniel was in the same room with you, but you could still hear the car engines, so the race wasn't over.

"What are you doing here?" you ask Daniel when he comes to hug you.

"I needed to see if you're okay, love."

"But the race-"

"I don't give a fuck about the race. Are you ok?"

So the doctor started to tell Daniel everything that has happened with you, and he was pleased to hear that you two were fine.

"You shouldn't have given up the race, I would have been here when you finished," you tell Daniel when you were left alone. "What will the team say about you retiring the car? You could score good points."

"I only care about you and our daughter, ok? When my race engineer told me not to pit that lap I knew something was wrong so I asked if you were ok, and I got no answer. For me, that was the only logical step I could have made at that moment," says your boyfriend and you smiled.

The race ended, with Max winning at Sochi. You and Daniel were watching the post-race interview with the three winners, and you saw Max asking about you.

"Sorry to interrupt, but do you know anything about Y/N? Is she ok?"

"We heard she is fine, just something minor, both her and the baby are fine."

"Oh, ok, thanks!"

Lewis and Valtteri were near Max and heard that you were fine and they breathed a sigh of relief.

[fanfic-chan]

Hi! A prompt, if you don't mind. Since there's not many content with Todoroki siblings, maybe some family bonding with lee Shoto and lers Natsuo and Fuyumi. Like, Shoto finally feels comfortable and close to them enough for cuddles and affection, and they realise their baby brother is touch-starved (and unexpectedly ticklish)

I- I cannot even put into words how much I enjoyed this prompt! I absolutely loved every minute of writing this and I'm so glad you decided to send it to me! Poor Shouto is so touch starved and I love every opportunity I get to give him some much needed love! I really hope you guys like it!^^

Better Late than Never

Lers: Fuyumi and Natsuo Todoroki

Lee: Shouto Todoroki

"Hey. Can you guys tickle me?"

Fuyumi couldn't even blame Natsuo when he promptly started choking on the soda he'd been drinking in surprise. Of all the things that she would have expected her socially inept younger brother to say, it certainly wasn't that.

The three of them had been hanging out in the living room together, watching some animated movies that Shouto had borrowed from one of his classmates, Izuku Midoriya. That green haired kid that he'd fought during the UA Sports Festival. 

Apparently, their youngest sibling had been doing some 'research' as he put it, on sibling bonding techniques, and had been interviewing a few of his classmates to figure out what they liked to do with their siblings. Tonight he'd suggested the three of them have a family movie night while their father was away on a business trip and he had some time off from school, an idea he'd gotten from his classmate, Hanta Sero.

Ecstatic that their little brother finally seemed ready to open up to them, they immediately agreed, and the three of them were currently cuddled up together in the impromptu blanket fort that Shouto had insisted was a must when it came to a proper family movie night because, 'Sero said so.'

And so it was.

Admittedly, things had been going pretty well up until now, when their stoic peppermint of a little brother had turned to them, family bonding list in hand, and had asked, in the most blank tone possible, if they could tickle him of all things.

"Shouto, um, if you don't mind me asking, what brought on that question?" Fuyumi asked after a moment, patting Natsuo's back firmly while he still struggled to catch his breath after almost drowning himself in Fanta. Shouto didn't even bat an eye at his older brother's near death experience, and instead kept his expression carefully emotionless. However, he was fiddling with the hem of his shirt slightly, as if he might be nervous.

"Oh. Well, Kirishima said he likes to bond with his younger siblings by tickling them. I'm the youngest, so I just thought maybe that's how it was supposed to go and that maybe we could do that too." He explained calmly, though there was a tad bit of barely noticeable apprehension there as well. "Is that… Wrong?" He asked hesitantly, tilting his head and taking on a rare expression of clear confusion as he started flipping through his notes again. Fuyumi couldn't decide whether the sight was adorable or flat out hilarious. Heck. Maybe it was a little of both.

"Oh! No! No of course it's not wrong! Just.. a little unexpected? I guess it's just surprising! Not bad though. It's good actually! Really good!" She answered hurriedly, not wanting to ruin this rare moment of trust Shouto was showing. He'd never really gotten the chance to bond with them properly when they were little, and his social skills definitely left something to be desired, so for him to be purposefully seeking out the opportunity to do normal siblings things with them? Especially things like physical displays of affection? Well, that was a pretty big deal.

He looked up at her and blinked, relaxing after a moment and setting his notes aside, seemingly satisfied with her hasty explanation.

"Oh." He said after a pause. "So.. You'll.. You'll do it then?" He asked quietly, and if she didn't know any better, it looked like he might even be blushing. Fuyumi couldn't help allowing herself a fond smile. When had her little brother gotten so adorable dang it?! There was definitely no way she could say no to that! 

Rather than giving a verbal answer right away though, she instead let her expression morph into something a tad more mischievous and looked over at Natsuo, who had by some miracle managed to recover from his coughing fit. "Hey Natsu? Remember that thing Touya used to do to us when we were kids?" She asked with a smirk, suddenly scooping up their little brother from behind and pulling him into her lap when he wasn't looking, catching him off guard. She quickly wrapped her arms around his torso, trapping him effectively while simultaneously preventing him from being able to bring his arms all the way down, leaving him exposed.

Natsuo looked just as confused as Shouto did for a moment before realization suddenly seemed to hit him. Back when they were younger, sometimes Touya would scoop one of them up into his lap and trap them there, then he'd warningly tell them, "Don't laugh or flinch at all or else~" and wiggle his fingers just above their stomach, occasionally pretending to dip his hand down before bringing it back up again. This would go on until eventually they'd break and he'd finally start clawing into their sides or ribs or armpits. It was never the same spot, and so the inability to guess or prepare for it always made it so much worse. They loved it, and hopefully, so would Shouto now that he would actually have a chance to play. 

He smiled slightly at the memory before crawling over to sit in front of his two siblings, the younger of them looking more than a little confused. "Um. What are you two doing? What did Touya used to do?" He asked, voice deceptively calm even as an anxious smile was starting to pull at his lips. Just because he'd never been allowed to participate didn't mean he hadn't seen his siblings playing this game before, and he had to admit, it was kind of exciting to finally be a part of it, even if he was a bit nervous.

"What do you mean 'what are we doing'? You wanted us to tickle you right? So what better time than now to teach our dear little Shouto about our favorite tickle game hm?" Fuyumi teased, making him squirm a bit in anticipation as he watched Natsuo slowly move his hands toward his stomach, which he sucked in instinctively.

"The rules are simple." Fuyumi began, "Don't laugh,"

"Or flinch at all-" Natsuo joined.

"Or else~" They finished together, and with that, the game had begun.

Shouto held up pretty good for about seven minutes. After all, due to both his extensive training on self control as a child and the countless tickle fights he'd already gotten into with his classmates back at the dorms, he'd managed to build up a fair amount of resistance, and he remained stubbornly quiet and still no matter how many times Natsuo tried to catch him off guard. That is until Fuyumi decided to cheat by pinching his side right at the exact moment Natsuo decided to bring his hand down again, and he arched his back in surprise right into his older brother's waiting fingers.

"GYAH- Ahahahahaha! No! Nohoho wait!! Fuyuhuhumi you cheheheheater!!!" He laughed, collapsing into his sister's chest as Natsuo started digging into his sides. "Cheater? Me? Are you hearing this Natsu? Shouto's accusing me of being a cheater! The nerve!" Fuyumi exclaimed, feigning outrage as she joined in by scribbling her fingers over his ribs and into his armpits, making him squeal adorably. By now, he'd been squirming around so much that his head had ended up cradled in her lap, giving her a perfect view of his joyful smile. The sight of her little brother, so happy and carefree in this moment, it almost brought her to tears, and she couldn't resist the urge to discretely snap a few quick pictures of the scene with her phone, both as a keepsake and to send to their mom later along with the others she'd gotten throughout the night.

"NONONONO!! NOT THEHEHERE! NOT THE FEET NATSUHUHU!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Shouto honestly couldn't remember a time he'd felt this much joy. Tickle fights with his classmates were always fun, sure, but this? This level of closeness and affection being shared between him and his siblings right now? It was like having a hole filled that had been empty for far to long. He never wanted it to stop. 

"What? Not here? Why not? Is someone a little sensitive riiight here~?" 

"YEHEHEHES! I AHAHAM! PLEASE! PLEAHEASE STAHAHAHAP!!! I'M DONE FOR NOHOHOW!!""

Okay he didn't want it to stop, but maybe, um, maybe he did need to breathe though. His siblings seem to recognize this as well and quickly let up. He shot them both a grateful smile as he curled into a ball on his side, still giggling. This time, Natsuo was the one who couldn't resist the urge to record it.

"I.. I love you... Guys.." Shouto mumbled between giggles, and they both froze. Did- Did he really just?...

Shouto barely had time to process what was happening before he was literally being crushed in a bear hug between his two siblings, and despite his sudden inability to breathe again, he returned the embrace happily because maybe.. Maybe this is what he'd been missing all along.