#but as per my usual I am. big scared it could be something more

[ghostsinthecellar]

I smell a vague smell of smelly and my brain is doing alarm bells but I don't smell the smell strong and there's no heat or light coming off the breaker boxes so I don't know if I'm being paranoid or if I used the hot water heater too much today or what and it's driving me insane

[pearlzier]

js read niecesitting and it was the cutest thing ever omfg but like i was thinking maybe u could write something similar but vice versa ? like when r introduces matt to her niece and matt sees how reader is js so protective and motherly over her, he’s like oh my god i’m in love

a/n ┆.ᐟ ᰍ ︵ got a lil carried away perhaps + daily sturniolo triplets taglist plug as per usual ۫ .

you really fucking wanted to go to the party, but here you were, with your niece. it's not like you didn't want to take care of her, no, but you did want to have a social life. it was one night but.. you and matt were gonna go out and have fun. pushing these thoughts away, you watched as the little girl sat beside you at the kitchen island mixed up her little concoction of makeup from her baby makeup set.

“wait, come closer,” rue taps your hand with her chubby fingers, trying to drag you closer. you shuffle your body near her, having put down your phone before letting out a soft laugh of your own.

“okay, we have a makeup guru here,” she pats your cheek for you to shut your eyes so she can apply the eyeshadow. her big, cute eyes light up when she sees her masterpiece come to formation. a flurry of giggles slip past her lips and she claps her hands excitedly. there's a childlike, mysterious wonder filling her brown eyes, which soon turns to curiosity when she hears the sound of the door bell.

“i'll get it, auntie!” rue practically runs to the door, despite the fact that maybe the adult should go get it. you're typing on your phone, snorting out a laugh at something stupid you'd read when you hear rue make a little scared sound, and you quickly rise from where you are to check out what's happening at the door.

“rue rue, hey, who's—” your hands slide over to hold onto rue's shoulders as your brow furrows, but your expression softens almost instantly when you realise it's matt. rue clings to your leg as you hold her, and you watch as matt eyes the two of you with total confusion. you can almost laugh at his expression.

“am—am i interrupting?” his blue eyes flicker down to rue's, watching the confused expression on her face.

“auntie? who's that?” she asks, tugging on your oversized shirt. matt tilts his head, probably thinking the exact same thing as the child.

“hi, matt,” you say gently, smiling softly. guiding the child to the side gently, you tilt your head for him to come in, which confuses the little girl. “rue, meet matt, matt, meet rue,” they just stare at each other, kind of like two animals trying to defend their territory. in which their territory is you. rue notices how nice you are to matt, and matt notices how protective you are of her.

“hey, kid,” matt runs a hand through his hair, shutting the door behind him and locking it with the key on the door before he follows beside you a little tentatively.

“uhm..” she seems nervous to say high, to which you gently nudge her to do so, but not forcing her to. “hi, matt,” she says finally, clinging to your side quite a bit. “are you my auntie's friend?”

oh, so you're her aunt, matt thinks to himself. so she's your niece. that makes a lot more sense to him, and he relaxes a bit. he didn't know what he was thinking, but he's glad to know who she is to you. and why you're so protective of the little girl. it makes a little warmth grow in his stomach, which he can't quite put his finger on.

“uh, yeah, yeah,” he nods, arms crossed across his chest as you guys made it to the kitchen where you'd been sat up prior. your eyes flicker to his and an apologetic glint shimmers in them as you gesture for him to sit with you guys. “yeah, your auntie’s friend.”

“mhm,” you glance at him as he sits beside you and rue seems to be deciding something, her little fingers drumming against the table before she spoke up, tone gentle. she looks to you, and attempts to whisper, but it comes out as a quiet shout more than anything.

“do you think he wants his makeup done too, auntie?” she tries to cover her mouth with her hand, and this makes matt smile. matt smiles even more at the way you indulge rue, by doing the same in covering your mouth and whispering just as loud—

“i think so. should we ask?” the way you play with her makes his heart ache. he doesn't know what the feeling is, doesn't know whether he wants to know. but he doesn't hate it. doesn't mind it. might even like it.

“you ask, he's your friend, auntie,” rue decides, glancing at matt in a way she thinks is sneaky, but she just full on stares at him, before looking back at you.

“matt?” he pretends he was checking his phone, just to indulge the two of you in the same way you'd done for rue.

“hm? yeah?” matt leans against the counter, his expression a feigned innocence and obliviousness.

“you think, the lovely rue here, could do your makeup?” you bite back a soft smile as your gaze meets his and especially as matt pretends to not really know whether she could. he leans back, stretching, with a shrug.

“hmmmm, i dunno..”

“please! you'll look so fab,” rue promises, holding up her little pinky to which matt finds himself interlocking his with hers in a pinky promise as he sighs dramatically. a laugh slips past your lips, and soon, you find yourself watching your boyfriend get his makeup done by your niece.

matt is the perfect client, staying perfectly still for rue as she does his blush, his eyeshadow, etectera. you watch in amusement, but also fondness. “are we all done?” he asks after a moment, his eyes still shut. he probably looks ridiculous, he knows that, but he wants to see the happiness on both of your faces.

“mmmh, auntie, what d'you think?” matt opens his eyes and allows both you and rue to see the new look. you hum, letting the little girl lean against your shoulder are the two of you inspect him. the way you treat rue makes him want to cry, tears of literal joy. he bites his bottom lip, but releases it as soon as he senses rue about to protest so he doesn't mess up his beautiful red lipstick.

“he looks perfect, honey,” you smile softly, and rue claps her hands excitedly. you too have your makeup done, and rue had somehow managed to grasp a basic form of colour theory and made your makeup match. as your niece bounds off to grab a mirror so you two can see your makeup, both you and matt make eye contact and burst out laughing instantly. “you do look perfect!”

“y’look even better, sweetheart,” he crosses his arms once more and leans against the table. he admires you silently, for a moment, before he speaks up, “you're good with her.”

“huh?” your brow furrows, and matt notices, so he continues, having now reached out to hold your hand gently.

“with rue. you treat her like your own kid, y'know?” his thumb traces a heart on your palm before he lets go, feeling a little too sappy for a simple moment like this. however, you nod, leaning against the table too as your head tilts to the side a little.

“that kid's my life,” you admit as you look up at him, squeezing his hand for a moment after you'd taken it back into yours. a soft smile plays on your lips, and you continue, “i adore her.”

“yeah?” it's like matt's taking a mental note of this. as he watches you, he nods. he leans over and presses a quick kiss to your cheek, leaving a red lipstick mark on your skin. god, he loves you. you are quite literally, unequivocally, perfect. and that realisation slowly dawns upon him as he searches your gaze for a second before he glances back over at rue's bounding footsteps with a little mirror in her hands.

“okay, line up!” she gestures the two of you over, and you both shuffle over with your fingers intertwined. rue has clearly very much noticed something as she flickers her eyes over the two of you. first of all, the interlaced fingers make her brows raise. then the red kiss mark on your cheek which is suspiciously similar to the tone of red on matt's lips.

you and matt glance at eachother for a moment, stifiling your laughter before you pose with eachother in the mirror, which then gives rue an idea. “auntie, can i use your phone?”

“go ahead, babe,” you smile, pressed against matt's side. rue hops up onto the chair to grab your phone, fiddling with it before she hands you it so you can turn it on. unlocking it, you hand it back to the girl so she can take the photos she wants to of you two.

“say… cheese!” she beams, smiling happily as she snaps a few photos of the two of you. she quickly turns and shows them to you, his eyes searching yours for a moment as you're looking at the photos. a glimmer of pure adoration gleams in his eyes and he glances at rue for a moment, who's looking back at him with a look that's way too knowing for a little girl her age.

“thank you for the makeup, kid,” matt gives her a smile, to which rue beams and nods, giggling.

“anytime!” she shrugs, as if it's nothing, glancing back at you. you look back up at her and you let out a little hum under your breath when you see the time.

“i think it's someone's bed time,” rue whines, and she looks at matt as if he's gonna agree, but he shrugs his shoulders with a little laugh.

“your aunt's right, kid, c'mon,” she pouts, but she hands the phone back over as she glances dramatically at the stairs. her eyes roll and she glances back at you once more.

“can you get my bedtime story ready?”

“you got it, missy, stay right here you two,” you agree to do your niece's bidding, and you head on upstairs to sort out her pajamas and stuff, which leaves matt and rue together. a comfortable silence settles over the two of them.

“so when are you getting married?”

“i don't.. we aren't—what? who.. hey, woah, no—what colour ring would she like?”

tags ┆.ᐟ ᰍ ︵ @junnniiieee07 , @st7rnioioss , @mimi-luvzyu , @freshloveee , @onlynextdoor ۫ .

[buterccup]

GEN Z READER IN TASK FORCE 141 HC

A/N: I saw a couple of these and I couldn't stop trying to find more, and I just love the concept of all these big men trying to understand the reader's humour but I also love how they try to watch over them even though they can easily take care of themselves. Also, do expect the codename to change if I make another one of these but if anyone has ideas please tell me. Anyways I hope this doesn't flop and please enjoy.

Warnings: Dark humour, Suicide jokes, simping, swearing, mentions of parents leaving the reader, basically gen z stuff, usual CoD violence

Character(s): Soap, Gaz, John, Ghost, Price x Gn! reader (And graves kinda-)

Codename: Daffodil

There is no thinking about it you are the youngest and probably the shortest in the task force.

When Laswell first told Price that he will have someone younger than he expected to join the task force he immediately said no, he wasn't going to babysit you.

Plus you looked way too young to be in the army

Little did he know, you got your codename for a reason.

But once Laswell said you were very strong and he could trust you to hold your own and that he had to, he didn't have much of a choice.

And as expected once Price and Laswell introduce you to the boys they were shocked too.

There was a literal child in front of them.

And Soap being Soap he let out a little chuckle earning a nudge and glare from Ghost and an "ahem" from Price

"This is Daffodil, your new rookie. And I warn you don't underestimate them just from their name. Treat them well."

At first you were very quiet and only spoke when spoken to, almost beating Ghost's stoic and quiet nature

To which the rest of 141 joked about quite a lot

but after a while, you started to open up to them which was a nice sign

But the boys did catch onto your humour pretty quickly which caused them to worry for your mental state.

You would start saying suicide jokes at 1 mile per second at every small inconvenience.

"If that happens again I'm going to jump in front of a car- I am going to hang myself- I cannot right now-"

"Kid...It's just paper work..."

"Exactly"

One time you and the group were going after a target and of the guys' men shot you in the arm. It wasn't as bad as you thought it would be but it still hurt.

While Soap and Gaz asked if you were okay you were completely hysterical at the moment. So much in fact that you shouted something so stupid before the guy met his inevitable end.

By Ghost too:D

Thanks Ghost<33

"Do you want this back???"

BLAM

"Oop, mans left quicker than my dad."

To say the least, your boys were concerned for you because of that

Even Ghost tried to check up on you every minute or two after they got the bullet out and patched you up.

You all eventually got the target in the end but your boys ended up forcing you to go get your wound checked since a, and I quote, "Crusty dusty" building wouldn't be the best place to pick out bullet fragments.

You came back with one of the doctor's pens because you liked it and claimed you finessed him when in reality he gave it to you because he noticed you staring and you were too scared to ask.

It was a LED cat paw pen

"Gaz what does finesse mean?"

"I don't really know..?"

"What do you mean you're supposed to know-"

One time you shouted slay during a mission once Ghost killed one of the targets.

To be honest, it did make him laugh but Price, on the other hand, didn't understand but he soon got what it meant. Kinda.

With that being said Gaz and sometimes Soap are the go-to when Price or Ghost don't understand what the hell you just said since they are the younger ones.

Which also means you got along better with them

And if they don't understand something they always try their best to find out and find more things you would laugh at.

Soap even goes that extra effort to make memes and send them to you.

But don't get me wrong you love spending time with Price and Ghost.

And speaking of memes you always end up making stupid gifs of Ghost and always end up sending them to the tf141 group chat that you made to annoy them most of the time or Ghost himself where you sometimes end up joke flirting with him

Mans is scrumdiliumcious if you did say so yourself

(Ahem basically the gif at the start of the hcs)

One time you called Ghost Mummy and Soap and Gaz wouldn't stop laughing while Price sighed at the little slip-up.

It wasn't a slip-up.

You defiantly burst into Price's office most of the time too when you have nothing to do.

Even though hearing Price drone on about his paperwork doesn't sound that fun it's nice to hear his voice.

And If you didn't have good parents or were absent most of your life he would never turn you away once he sees you at his door.

This also applies if you have good parents too

From the number of times he had to lecture you and your boys about how you can't have McDonald's after a mission and how it's bad for you is basically allowing him to adopt you.

Once you met Grave one thing kept popping into your mind.

Fix it Felix.

Which didn't really give you both a great start but he warmed up to you sooner or later.

And as much as an asshole he is most of the time he actually gets concerned when he hears one of your suicide jokes.

When he first heard one over coms he made sure to keep an eye on you every so often and even messaged you after the mission was over.

Don't get me wrong Graves is kinda...shitty but that doesn't make him that much of an asshole to not check up on a 'child' when they say something concerning.

And when all your boys are free and there is time you all have a movie night.

It's quite relaxing, it was nice to have these quiet moments with your boys considering your jobs.

Although one time it was getting really late and you all got through 2 movies and you almost looked like you were going to pass out so that's when papa Price came out.

"Papa, more movie."

"No the movie is over, we gotta go.."

"PAPA"

"Oh, Jesus Christ.." (💀)

"Me. Want. More. Movie."

"No Daffo-"

"YOU LIE"

"Kiddo the movie is-"

"Price what did you do-" (🧼)

Once you calmed down and Price realized what you said he cried internally.

Everything was okay in the end though and Gaz had that on camera so they can always look back and laugh at it.

Requests: Open

Part 2!

[wormdebut]

Hello! How about 21 for your Spotify wrapped? 👯

HI! I am so fucking sorry this took me forever. This one was a massive challenge for me because 21 on my Spotify Wrapped is Counting Worms by Knocked Loose. For any of you that know, Counting Worms is thirteen words long so I had to process how I wanted to handle this. (And work fucking sucks and I'm exhausted as hell but that's beside the point.) I hope you enjoy this. I actually love it a lot more than I thought I would. 🖤

----

'I wrote a song about getting better, it's a feeling I don't remember'

Steve stares at the words on the page, looking up to cock an eyebrow at Eddie, "What comes next?"

Eddie stifles a laugh. "Nothing does, Stevie. That's it."

Steve scrunches his nose, confused. "Thats--the song? That like ten words."

Eddie grabs the paper from him and smiles down at it. "It's thirteen words, big boy. And its--sometimes it's not about the amount of words. It's about feeling something."

Steve tries not to blush. Big boy certainly did a number on him. He would never fucking admit that--but, it is what it is.

He shakes he his head, to try and clear his thoughts, "Sure."

Steve watches as Eddie's smile widens, eyes crinkling in the corners. Christ.

"Did you?" Steve asks.

"Did I what?" Eddie questions.

"Did you ever get better?"

Eddie's smile softens then. "I'm working on it."

----

Steve always knew he was something--something not straight. He just didn't really have a word for it, and he tried not to dwell on it. Didn't get caught with drifting eyes in locker rooms, made sure Tommy wouldn't tell a soul about what they got up to. He didn't. Tommy might be an asshole but he wouldn't out himself or Steve…

Anyway, Steve always knew. He always knew and he had told Robin a few months after Starcourt. She helped him find the words for it. Bisexual. So Steve knew what he was, but he was fine ending up with a woman. That's just what he always figured would happen

But Eddie? Eddie changed everything.

Robin had told him just to fucking talk to him. She said that he was being a hypocrite because he had helped her get her shit together enough to talk to Vickie after everything and it had worked out--at least for a bit--but that's beside the point. The point is Robin had asked Vickie out and Steve just stared at Eddie talking, at Eddie playing D&D with kids, at Eddie writing music. He just watched.

He was scared because Eddie? Eddie was loud and confident and interesting and important.

Steve was just…Steve.

What would he even say?

----

It'd been a few months since Steve had found the song. Thirteen words.

He couldn't stop thinking about it.

'It's about feeling something.'

He still hadn't said anything to Eddie, but he needed to…Well, he wanted to.

There's only a couple of days left until the kids have winter break, and Steve is expecting them to invade his home as per usual so he has been cleanly all fucking day listening to Abba and thinking about Eddie Munson's stupid fucking hands.

He was feeling impulsive--he could talk to Eddie--he could. Eddie had said it wasn't about the amount of things he had to say it just had to mean something…right?

Steve grumbles out a sigh before stomping over to the phone. He dials out the number--has it memorized by now. It's late, he listens to the line trilling as the clock turns. 10:12 pm.

"Thanks for calling the bat cave." Eddie rambles off.

"Yeah, hi batman. It's Steve."

Eddie laughs over the line. "Stevie! To what do I owe the late night call?"

Steve steels himself. "Listen, I--can I come over?"

"Uh--yeah? Are you okay?" Eddie asks and Steve shakes his head, not that Eddie can see it anyway.

"I'm--I just--I'll be over in a few." Steve breathes. He can do this. It's fine.

"Okay, S. Just be safe--alright?"

Steve mumbles out an affirmative before hanging up and grabbing his keys.

----

He only paces outside of Eddie's door for a minute or two before he knocks lightly. Eddie is quick to answer, looking ridiculously hot for a man wearing worn out sweats and one of a thousand old band tees. He looks worried and Steve feels bad about that but--he's just gotta--

"Can we go to your room?" Steve asks and Eddie lets out a shocked laugh before nodding and heading back through the apartment. Steve follows behind.

He stands frozen in the bedroom doorway, watches as Eddie sits on the edge of his bed with head cocked to the side.

"What's going on Stevie? Was it the nightmares again because--"

Steve shakes his head, and swallows before just--going for it.

"Look--I've been--running so many things through my head. I've written speeches and songs--which is sort of your thing. So, I stopped that. But--I have thought over and over again about how to say what I need to say.

And you--you told me 'it's not about the amount of words, it's about feeling something.

And when I look at you? I feel everything--

And I just--I just needed you to know."

Eddie blinks up at Steve, eyes wide. Great. Steve fucking scared him. Awesome this is great. This was a really fucking awesome idea Steve. Nice--

"That was a lot more than thirteen words, sweetheart." Eddie smirks at him and Steve feels his heart stutter at the name.

Steve breathes, "Yeah well--did I fuck everything up?"

Eddie moves from his bed then, quick to meet Steve in the doorway. Steve is quiet. He watches as Eddie's eyes move from Steve's own, down to his lips and back up again.

Eddie brings a hand up to cup his cheek and Steve can't help the soft noise that escapes his throat. The other man swipes his thumb over Steve's cheekbone. "No Stevie, I really don't think you did. I'm gonna kiss you now, okay?"

Steve can't do anything other than nod.

----

[joekeeryswife]

u should defo do a fic where r breaks something at steve’s house and she’s apologising and crying and starts panicking & steve just comforts her bc he knows the feeling all too well bc of his dad

ur writing is literally terrific love 💕💕

Picture frame - s.h

hello love, thank you for your request! i hope this is okay, i am not really liking my writing atm. this is really short and i hope that’s okay. feedback is always appreciated and my requests are open- enjoy x (also did i have a mental break down about Steve possibly dying in season 5? yes. a lot of crying has been done)

taglist (feel free to add yourself 🤍):if there is a line through your @ i can’t tag you x @eddieamoremio @johnricharddeacy @theshireisonfire @ssababe @snackycake1975.

it was late and you were tired, so tired that Steve had to put his arm around your waist to keep you up right so you could walk to the door. Steve had taken you on a date which was rare. you were both so busy all the time with working, you both had different schedules and it was hard to figure out a day where you were both free.

luckily this weekend you were both off so a date night was 100% needed. he’d taken you to a restaurant and then to the movies, it was just the cutest date and it suited both of you. you were in Steve’s house more then you were in your own and it was all because of your dad, like Steve, you and your dad didn’t get along.

he was just one of those dads who hated their daughters and loved their sons. you had two older brothers and one younger one and it was like you were the outcast. you got along with your mum though, she was always on your side and stuck up for you when your dad shouted but there wasn’t a lot she could do.

to your dad, anything you did was wrong. he’d shout at you to the point where the neighbours would call the police with a noise complaint because of how loud he was. this is why you loved staying at Steve’s, it was quiet and comforting and you never felt scared being with him.

Steve’s house was dark and you being tired and disorientated you had no idea where Steve was leading you to. Steve knew you were tired. he could tell as soon as you got out of the cinema that the moment your head would hit his pillow you’d be out like a light.

Steve had to go into the kitchen to finish the dishes before his parents came back (which he had absolutely no clue when they would) because the last time they came back unannounced, per usual, he hadn’t cleaned up the house to the ‘family standard’ and was shouted at by both his parents for being too lazy when they went off for different business trips.

he carefully laid you down on the couch and kissed your forehead before he made his way to the kitchen. you didn’t wanna be on the couch, all you wanted to do was be in Steve’s bed with his hoodie and joggers on so you did the only logical thing, got up off of the sofa and started making your way to Steve’s bedroom still half asleep.

the next thing you heard was glass smashing which woke you up out of your sleepy state. you immediately went down to the floor and saw it was a picture of Steve and his parents. the glass on the picture frame had smashed all over the floor and the wooden part had also broken. you instantly felt tears welling up in your eyes.

the last time you had broken something was in your house and you had gotten screamed at for it by your dad. you had absolutely no idea how Steve would react, would he be mad? would he shout at you? so many negative thoughts ran through your mind as you picked up all the big bits of glass and put them in your hand.

Steve heard the smashing and quickly left the dishes to find you on your hands and knees picking up shards of glass with thick tears rolling down your face. Steve could see a little bit of blood on your hand, you’d definitely cut it on the glass. you heard Steve’s footsteps approaching you as you kept picking up the glass but it was difficult with how teary eyed you were.

you looked up and saw Steve towering over you with a confused look on his face. the only thing you knew what to do was apologise and beg for forgiveness. you didn’t want Steve to shout at you but you had broken something of his and surely he was going to be mad. “i’m so sorry Steve. i didn’t even see the picture and i should of been looking and i’ll-”

Steve bent down to your level and lifted his hand to wipe away the tears which were falling down your cheeks quickly. “baby, it’s okay. it’s only a picture frame” he gave you a genuine smile to try and calm you down but it was no use.

your tears were still falling, if Steve wasn’t mad then his parents most definitely would be “but i broke it” Steve had never heard your voice like this. so soft yet so weak. it honestly broke his heart. “by accident. it’s only a picture frame sweetheart. it can be replaced. now, let me see your hands”

he watched as you opened your hands up for him to see and saw some bits of glass in your left hand were covered in blood. he started to pick the glass out of your hands and put them on top of the picture and once all of the glass was out of both of your hands he took your hands into his. “come on, we need to clean you up baby”

you and Steve stood up from the floor and he guided you to the kitchen. Steve started cleaning up your hand and you watched intently as he did so. he was gentle and made sure he didn’t hurt you. “i’m really sorry Steve” he shook his head and lent down to place a quick kiss on your cheek. “stop apologising. it’s honestly fine honey” Steve knew how your dad was and he also knew what it was like for a parent to dislike their kid, he’d lived through it himself.

when he saw you sobbing on the floor like that he knew his only approach should be a soft one. you hadn’t done anything wrong and it didn’t matter. it was a picture frame. Steve always wanted you to feel loved and that’s why he was always so gentle with you when you were upset, he loved you so much and nothing would ever change that, even if you did break another picture frame his feelings would never change.

[euno11a]

Can I have a Jungkook or Namjoon mafia x Fém Reader having smut for the first time please 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 hopefully I’m not annoying. You are bothering you if I am I’m so sorry.

Ofc you’re not bothering me😊 this is my first time writing something like this so I hope you enjoy it!!

Warnings: Fingering, praise, big dick jungkook, dom! Jungkook, sub! Reader, honestly just him being a big sweetheart💕

18+ ONLY

It was another lonely night. Jungkook was working late as per usual, and it felt like you hadn’t seen him in forever. You knew what getting into a relationship with him would be like, lonely nights, hiding from society, your once normal life now full of violence. You sat on the couch in your living room, of course you felt grateful for everything he’d done for you! He gave you a place to live (with him), protection, anything you could’ve asked for. But it was all made of money. The penthouse, the clothes, the jewelry, everything. You couldn’t help but crave some sort of affection. Not something he would buy, you wanted him.

The night progressed slowly, still no sight of him. It was almost 1am and you started to get worried about his possible whereabouts. What if he was injured? What if he got caught? What if he was…dead? The thoughts got shut out of your mind as you heard the front door to your shared penthouse open and close. The heavy footsteps came closer to where you had been sitting in your living room. Jungkook. You stared at the man in front of you, he seemed different…blood was splattered on his once white button down shirt, a cut or two on his fists, he looked exhausted. He stopped in his tracks as he saw you sitting on the black, leather couch, still not in bed.

“Baby, why’re you still up?” He asked, coming closer to you, wiping the blood onto his pants. “You should be in bed, it’s late.”

You couldn’t help but move away from his touch. It wasn’t that you were scared, you wanted his touch…but it didn’t feel right. He’d been neglectful of you for so long, that now his touch felt foreign. “It’s pretty damn hard to go to bed when I have no clue where you are. I was worried about you. I called, texted, but I got nothing. I was scared you were injured! Or dead! You can’t just show up without talking to me for days and expect everything to be perfect!”

Jungkook stood there in shock, you’d been worried about him? You knew he could take care of himself, so why worry? “You know me. I’m fine, just a few little cuts. Nothing to worry about, baby.”

He went to go give you a kiss, but you swerved again. That just added to his confusion. You stood up, pushing past him, mumbling about heading to bed. Leaving Jungkook standing still in the living room. He walked into the bedroom a few minutes later, you were already in bed, pjs on and ready to sleep.

“I’m gonna go shower, care to join?” He asked, trying to lighten the mood. It’s not like he hadn’t seen you naked before, like that one time he “accidentally” walked in on you changing, oh, and the same for when you showered! But he had to brush his teeth…dumb reasoning. But you just shook your head and turned onto your side. Jungkook let out a small sigh, walking away into the bathroom. When he finished showering, he walked out, back into your shared bedroom. A towel wrapped around his neck, catching the drips of stray water from his hair. You were still awake, surprisingly, on your phone flipping through social media. He crawled into bed beside you, trying to wrap his arm around your waist, but you shuffled away. This only confused him more.

“Baby? Why won’t you let me touch you?” Jungkook asked as he sat up and looked towards you.

“I just don’t feel like being touched right now. That’s all.” You were a bad liar, you both knew it. You felt strong arms being wrapped around you, positioning you now in his lap. You felt blush rise to your cheeks, feeling his semi-hard dick under you. You felt as if you couldn’t concentrate, you weren’t a virgin by any means, but it was the first time you’d felt him.

“Don’t lie to me, baby. Tell me what’s wrong.” He held your hips and gently made them move over his hard-on. This made you whine a little bit, feeling yourself become wet from just a little friction.

“N-nothing, I promise…” He guided your hips again, a little rougher this time.

“What’s on your mind, pretty girl?” Jungkook asked once more, voice becoming deeper and slightly more stern.

You couldn’t help but whine again, the feeling was something you hadn’t felt before. None of your boyfriends before had made you this wet from just some small actions. “You…you’ve been busy. Like, so busy that you never have time for me anymore. I have to fall asleep without you, wake up without you, constantly worry that you’re dead somewhere…I miss you. But you don’t seem to miss me.”

Jungkook loosened his grip on you hips a little, his brown eyes staring into yours. “ Why didn’t you talk to me sooner, baby? Of course I miss you, I’ve just been busy with work. I…I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, I know you’re busy…just forget I said anything, please.” You tried to get out of his lap, but he flipped you onto your back, caging you in with his arms and legs on either side of your body. “Wha-?”

“Let me show you how sorry I am. Please.” He asked softly as he kissed your neck gently, his hand trailing down lower and lower.

You let out a soft gasp as you felt his warm hands slip into your pj pants, into your panties and the place you wanted him most. He gently began to rub your clit, small circular motions, looking at your face to make sure that he wasn’t overstepping any boundaries. Once he saw that you had no intention of stopping him, he lost the hesitation and became more confident with his actions. His fingers rubbing your pussy, feeling how wet you were getting by the moment, his lips attached to your neck as he sucked love marks into your soft skin. You couldn’t help but moan as you were overwhelmed with all of these sudden feelings.

“That feel good, baby? Want me to speed up?” He asked in a low and sultry voice as he gave you a teasing smirk.

You could only muster a nod, grinding your hips to meet his fingers as they touched you. He chuckled, shaking his head and kissing your jaw, “I need words, baby. Be my good girl and tell me what you want.”

“Y-your f-fingers…please…” you begged, not being able to hold back your moans. He smiled against your skin, removing his hand from your pants. You whined at the loss of contact.

“It’s okay, pretty girl, I’m just gonna undress you, okay?” His fingers played with the hem of your shirt, you gave him the go ahead and he pulled your shirt over your head. He stopped for a moment, mouth slightly ajar, admiring the beauty he had in front of him. “You’re so gorgeous…all my girl. My baby.” His tone sounded possessive.

You whimpered as he finished undressing you, throwing your clothes somewhere into the room. He took your legs and placed them on either sides of his thighs, spreading you out, putting your pussy on display for him. You could see a light blush on his face, caressing your thighs, looking at how beautiful you were. How you were his. He leaned down and kissed your lips. His soft lips met yours, making you feel like heaven. His fingers gently pushed into you, allowing you to adjust to his fingers. He slowly pumped his fingers in and out of you, making you a moaning and begging mess.

“Baby…m’gonna….”

“Cum for me, baby girl. Let go.” He ordered, fingering you fast, hitting your g-spot every time. Using his thumb to rub your clit, he pumps his fingers into you at a merciless pace, making you cum. Jungkook helps you ride out your high, quickly sliding out of his own pants. He grabs your hips, guiding you back over his now completely hard dick. Grabbing his cock, he slides it up and down your slit, coating it in your juices. He pushes his tip in, slowly sinking himself fully into your pussy. You moan loudly at the sudden feeling of being filled to the brim with his cock. He leans back onto the bed, pulling you with him, he grabs a handful of your ass and fucks himself up into you. The feeling being so new to you, had you screaming out his name, begging for more. You could hear his groans and grunts, only making you wetter and wetter.

“You like that, don’t you? Tell me, baby, do you like having my cock in your tight pussy? Like being fucked so good?” He asked as he kept rutting into you, not slowing down for a moment.

“Mmhmmm….f-feels so g-good…love your cock…” you whimpered out, wrapping your arms around his neck, moaning into his shoulder. After a few more thrusts, it had you both reaching your end.

“Be a good girl and cum with me…” He grunted, trying to reach the tip of his climax, fucking you faster and harder. You nodded your head, he lowered his hand to rub quickly at your clit, making sure you felt as much pleasure as you could.

“Can’t…gonna cum…!” You moaned out, feeling your walls clench around him.

“Cum for me, baby.” Jungkook moaned as he fucked you faster, making you both reach your climax. After riding it out, he carefully slid out of you, going to get a warm cloth to clean you up.

That was what you needed. Not jewelry, clothes or a new house. You needed him. His love. His affection. “I’m sorry for being so neglectful, baby. I’ve been so busy with work I-”

You cut him off with a soft kiss to his lips, caressing his face with your hands. “There’s no need to apologize, Kook. I understand, truly, but I just need you. That’s it. You’re all I’d ever need.”

“Well that’s good, because you’re never getting rid of me.”

[buck-up-buck]

7x09 theories... (because but of course)

OKAY, so I am going absolutely feral over next week's promo and I have some ideas, as per usual, so let's delve head-first into this, shall we?

First of all, I was so off mark with 7x08 so now that we have confirmed I am not a prophet, we can obviously take every theory I post with a pinch of salt. The only thing I kinda remotely even mentioned was a kidnapping theory and, in my defence, Herman did try to kidnap Bobby and Amir before Bobby ran them off the road so, slay, I was, kinda sorta on the right path, just also totally wrong😂

BUT, let's now talk Ashes Ashes because boy that promo has me feeling some kind of way.

First things first, the scene in which Athena says "I think my husband is in danger", is in a hospital. I have a feeling maybe she is talking to Amir because the Cartel are going after Bobby potentially for saving Amir after he killed that guy. BUT, she could also be talking to anyone and it could still well be Amir who is after Bobby, because I refuse to believe the revenge arc is over and done with. I will be so annoyed if we don't get more on this revenge arc, I swear. BUT, her outfit and the background potentially looks like the scene from the still Tim Minear posted last week. Maybe Bobby gets injured in the fire at Bathena house, some smoke inhalation, a lil burn, something, and that's why he is in the hospital. I am so sure though that the scene with Maddie, Chim and Hen is not the same scene with Athena.

Second, I have a gut feeling, that something about this Bathena house fire is sus. Like, the way Bobby is asleep on the couch and the way he suddenly wakes up and reacts seems so staged to me, that it almost doesn't seem real, like maybe Bobby is dreaming it and the scene doesn't actually happen. I don't know why my first thought was a dream, that maybe his mind is playing tricks on him because he has a feeling he is being hunted and he starts making up crazy scenarios, maybe someone tells him to watch his back, and he loses it a little in worry. I DON'T KNOW, but I just have a feeling that scene isn't all that we think it might be. That, OR, the fire at Bathena house is a warning and there is something darker, and bigger, at play (cough Buck's loft burning down cough) because surely if the big event of the last two episodes was Bathena's house burning down and Bobby getting trapped, or Athena being in danger or what not, they would not have showed us such a drastic clip in the promo. That would have been kept under wraps from us until the episode aired, and we would not have seen a clip like we did.

Thirdly, now don't shout at me for this, I could be so wrong, BUT, I have a feeling Bobby is going to relapse either in the next TWO EPISODES or start of Season 8. I initially had this idea back in September because of seeing potential storylines in another show of a character relapsing and thought maybe ABC would take the route as in season 1, Bobby relapses when Hen and Buck find him in his apartment, and ABC did say they were treating this season as another season 1, reintroducing storylines and what not. I killed the idea because, respectfully, I do now want to see this happen because my man Bobby has been through way too much, BUT, the way he is looking in the promo is very dishevelled and unsettled and I just feel like maybe all of this with Amir is going to make him snap. Again, don't shout at me, I am no prophet, I am just, speaking what I am seeing and sharing my lil crazy brain thoughts. runs away

OKAY, now, onto the rest of the characters. I have feeling we are going to see some kind of divorce era 2.0 with Buck and Eddie, maybe not as big as Season 3, but somewhere along the lines of an explosive argument, and that maybe we get a glimpse of some tension in this episode.

I am NOT okay about the jump scare that is Captain Gerrard at the compensation ceremony, DO NOT LIKE THAT. Bad vibes all over. I feel like maybe something might happen between him and Tommy and Buck is gonna be top tier boyfriend. Like a small lil side plot that just gives us some Tommy angst, and Protective!Buck. Please. I beg. I would also LOVE, a few more kisses, even if just lil cheek pecks, from Buck and Tommy, because now that we have had "that fire was a beast." "so are you" I NEED MORE.

I think that is all for know, I may come back with more, because come on, it's me. I think by the end of the season we need to compile ALL of my theory posts this season and see just how wrong/right I have actually been.

Go forth and thrive 9-1-1 fans.

[herblay]

Every song on BRAT and which BNHA character it's about (aka redemption round) (but it's only tangentially about MY fic)

I made a shitty shitty post about which Charli song was which BNHA character. I wish to redeem myself. Bring this in line with my Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess post (tbh this is much more my usual music taste, the Chappell is a departure largely just because I LOVE her voice) and do a character per track. That said, it is about my shitty little fic, the one I'm writing on the Aye Oh Three, (it's called Never So Strong and it's bad but whatever it's Mido but she's a wonderful lesbian because I am gay and I like women) This is also slightly harder than Midwest Princess because uh. Genuinely none of the main characters on BNHA would ever do coke. And it's kind of needed for the vibes. (Wait actually Todoroki would probably do coke once. Just to see what it was all about. Lmao) Tbf even the villains are pretty tame. Like I genuinely don't believe Shigaraki has done coke. He doesn't have that energy.

This is a challenge. A personal goal. Can I make this work for characters who would not know how to cut a line? MAYBE. (also I'm really fucking lazy and piecing together the story I wrote into the order it's supposed to be in is really hard unexpectedly so this is just to give myself a break from that. I don't write chronologically and this makes editing a nightmare)

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO:

360: All Might. I said earlier this was about him, and it is. He's so Julia. He's everywhere, legacy is underrated, he sets the tone, etc. Like come on. The man IS the picture of the modern hero. This is him. He is the fucking icon.

Club classics: Mic. Wait I low-key hope he's tried coke once. Anyway. He's our DJ. He's our music man. And he's got a list of absolutely fucking banger friends. Classic. He is classic, and he would dance to his own shit. Let's fucking go. This works for him. (he's a really fucking minor character in my fic but he's important to me ok)

Sympathy is a knife: Bakugou. COULDN'T EVEN BE HER IF I TRIED. This is him at the start of his arc. The guy is spiraling and me too bestie. The jealousy and the fucking insecurity. Yes. Thank you. Banger. And the lack of just control making you feel helpless. Very yes that.

I might say something stupid: Yogi Toshinori. Yeah that's right. I'm gonna hurt your feelings. He definitely feels like an outsider as himself and not All Might. And that's just how it is. It sucks when you had the world and lose it. And it hurts. "I'm famous but not quite but I'm perfect for the background one foot in a normal life" BYE. "I don't know if I belong here anymore"

Talk talk: Uraraka. I just like her. I could see her being like this about liking someone but not really knowing if it worked. (COUGH MIDO EARLY IN THE STORY COUGH) And well. "I wish you'd just talk to me" because REAL. Besides that though the ~vibe~ of this song is very Uraraka. Light. Fun. Good.

Von dutch: Hawks thinks this is about him and who am I to take that away from him?! He should b in the club and this is for him when he goes to the club! And he does that little dance (what the commission wants) because without it he'd be nameless! (haha what) PUT YOUR HANDS UP

Everything is romantic: A struggle to narrow down but I'm going with All for One but like ironically. Like he's blasting this while he's watching the world burn at his behest. And hey I think he'd be big on the Romantic literature tradition. He's a French lit nerd in my heart so therefore. This. But again know it is not genuine he's just baiting you.

Rewind: Mitsuki Bakugou. I think she probably misses when her bestie Inko wasn't in constant worry hell and when her son wasn't a holy terror sometimes (yes yes save your fucking parenting discourse for somewhere that's NOT my Charli shitpost) and his little tiny bestie wasn't scared and breaking bones 24/7. Wouldn't it be cool to rewind.

So I: Hi this song makes me fucking CRY. BAWL. This is also any One for All successor to their predecessor. Midoriya to All Might, All Might to Nana, etc etc. It's okay to cry. It's okay. The gnawing guilt, the pain, the loss. Yes.

Girl, so confusing: This is Momo Yaoyorozu singing about Midoriya Izuku in my fic specifically and I love it. And they WILL work it out in the remix. (Yes Izuku is so Lorde) (Bite me)

Apple: Todoroki. Which one? Yes. All them kids are getting the fuck away. Like come on you can't tell me Shouto wouldn't be blasting this shit when he tells Endeavor he's not gonna act like his son. All of these kids deserve a banger about an absolutely rotten relationship.

B2b: Dabi and Hawks. Nuff said. I've been over this, I love them as a messy relationship with messy messy vibes. And a club BANGER.

Mean girls: Bubble Girl. I like her. I think she's more important than she is in canon and I want her to be the fucking break-your-boyfriend's-heart girl. She's so fucking cool. (Also a sidekick with a quirk that's objectively not that OP I KNOW she's fucking badass) (I deserved more Nighteye agency shenanigans in canon so I'm giving them to myself damnit)

I think about it all the time: All Might. Thinking about his child. Well, the child he adopted after said child did a fucking stupid thing just to try to save a bully. Iconic. And the fear of running out of time, the fear of losing a career you've worked so hard for? It works. Ty.

365: Brother really none of these characters would do coke. Not one of them. What am I supposed to do here? Well uh. I think I'll give this one to Gran Torino. Because fuck it man, I think he prolly did coke once. And I hope he was fucking BOUNCING off the walls.

BONUS TRACKS REAL QUICK: Hello goodbye is Midoriya Izuku with a little crush and I love it. Yapper, scared, hello hello hello hello hello. Guess is. Wow. None of these characters. I'm. Wow. Uh. Ig Midnight. But like. I love slutpop but IT DOES NOT WORK FOR THIS MANGA. Ig Dabi can have it. He seems like he'd be down to whore around. Send him to the Dare, Hawks is with it. Spring breakers is obviously the League and it's a banger and I support them. Never get invited cause they're such fucking haters, you could change their lives but like let's be so forreal you wouldn't dare. On the news w a DUI stare. I think Toga would eat with this song tbh. I love Toga.

This was fucking hard, I think I'm never doing Charli music for BNHA again, it requires a property where the characters have done coke. Copious amounts of it. And probably ecstasy too. And like. Pro heroes? Cops? Naw. On the other hand do you know what property could fucking KILL with Charli music? Assassination Classroom but they're all older. I know Karma would be doing coke. I know it. Ok that's all xoxo back to getting my fic in order.

[thebirdandthebee]

Easy As

A Carmen Berzatto Universe

A/N: This is almost a follow up to the ‘jealous Vanessa/Carmen’ request, but plays more off of insecurity than jealousy. Also a little soft/domestic/daddy Carm if you squint. There is one more request I’m working on in my inbox - feel free to chime in!

Vanessa Monaghan is the breath of fresh air that Carmen had been gasping for.

Page 15: Bleachers

Carmen had a lot more insecurities than Vanessa. Both raised in Chicago, they grew up in different cities. At the beginning of their relationship, he felt like was reminded of it all the time. Now, he barely noticed. Due in part to the fact that he had since traveled all over the US, conquered the most competitive restaurant scene in the world and truly made a name for himself.

However, it didn’t change the fact that he made his way into that echelon, instead of being born into it. That, and he didn’t have that natural confidence.  He wasn’t insecure about much, but he wasn’t tall, he still got adult acne, he knew he didn’t carry himself in the best way possible and he spoke with a deeper lilt than many.

Tonight, he was accompanying Vanessa to her 10-year high school reunion at Roycemore – a $35,000 per year private school in Evanston.

Vanessa wasn’t too hung up on going, but Gina was attending with her baby and Vanessa missed the five-year, so she thought she’d give it a shot. That, and her father was a top donor to the school, so it was good for her to show her face from time to time. Carmen was a casualty of proximity and she “wanted to show him off.”

He couldn’t help but think she’d be showing off the fact that she settled.

They’d ordered a car for the night so they could indulge – whether that be at the reunion or a bar afterward.

“Ness, baby, the driver should be here any minute,” Carmen called from the kitchen where he was finishing up a rusty nail.

“Coming!” She called, and he could hear her heels clacking soundly down the hall. Dressed in a pair of fitted jeans, an ivory cashmere sweater and the sapphire earrings he’d gifted her for their one-year anniversary, she’d never looked more beautiful to him. “Am I wearing too much perfume?” She asked, stepping into his personal space.

“You look and smell amazing,” he said, catching her about her hips and tugging her closer to him.

“I wish we didn’t have to go to this,” Vanessa said, pressing her hips into his.

“It could be fun,” Carm tried to be the cheerleader. “If nothing else, Gina and Rosie will be there,” he reminded.

“Ro,” Vanessa sighed, thrilled to see her best friend’s baby and goddaughter. Vanessa was deeply and completely in love with Rosie and though she and Carmen weren’t even living together yet, and had already had a pregnancy scare of their own, she couldn’t help but imagine what life would be like with their own babies when she held Rosie in her arms. She grinned as she looked at Carmen conspiratorially.

“Ness,” he warned. “We talked about this,” he couldn’t help the smile that threatened to pull up the corners of his mouth.

“I know,” she whined, grabbing the lapels of his bomber jacket and kissing him soundly. “It’s fun to pretend, though.”

Every once and a while, they’d watch Rosie for Gina and Tony and play house – a glimpse of looking into their future, she was sure of it. There was something seriously sick about the pleasure she got from watching Carmen cradle Rosie over his shoulder, patting her back with a dishtowel tucked under her tiny body.

Carmen always knew when Rosie went home at night he was going to get laid.

Hopping into the car, there was a bottle of wine waiting for them and they each nursed a glass before arriving at the Roycemore School. With conspicuous nametags, Vanessa grabbed Carmen’s hand as they entered the main gym. All at once, Carmen’s usual insecurities came rushing in.

These were Vanessa’s people – and he definitely wasn’t one of them. He had that pinned the moment a man in a five-thousand dollar suit pulled Vanessa into a big hug.

“Van, how are you?” He hugged her tightly and Carmen was realizing just how long of a night this would be.

“I’m great, Ben, how are you?” Vanessa reciprocated, obviously glad to see the 6’3 GQ model. “Ben, meet my boyfriend, Carmen,” she introduced. The man with the chiseled features looked at Carmen with as much disdain as he felt himself. “Carm, this is Benedict, we were on debate team together,” she introduced.

“Great to meet you, Benedict,” Carmen nodded, shaking his hand firmly.

“Is Heath here?” Vanessa asked, referring to Ben’s best friend from when they were in school.

“He’ll be here shortly, - running late, he had a race in Monaco last week,” Ben replied, Carmen doing his best to school his features.

“Wow, that’s amazing! I’m so glad to see you, Ben, you look great – tell your parents I say hello!” She squeezed his shoulder.

“Likewise, I see your Dad sometimes tearing it up at the club,” Ben joked, not giving a single ounce of thought to Carmen.

“I’ll mention we connected,” Vanessa grinned, “I think we’re going to see what we can get to drink,” she nodded over to the bar.

“See you around,” Ben said, gaze lingering on Carmen’s girlfriend for just a beat longer than he would have preferred. Once Carmen had another glass of wine in his hands, it opened up a string of similar actions with Leland, August and Blair. All names that sounded like they were ripped from book at Ellis Island with money just as old.

“I wonder where Gina is,” Carmen said, already forgetting the name of the last suitor to approach Vanessa.

“I don’t know, but she better hurry,” Vanessa commented, stepping into Carmen’s bubble and pecking him softly. “Thank you for coming with me tonight,” she said softly. “I know this is probably not very fun for you, but it means a lot for you to join me.”

“Happy just to spend the time with you,” Carmen replied, kissing her right back. “I’m gonna run and take a leak,” he said, eyeing the bathroom over her shoulder. “Hold my drink?” He asked. Vanessa complied, taking his glass and busying herself with her phone after setting her own malbec down on the table top beside her.

In the men’s room, Carmen had barely stepped in front of the urinal when the door swung open to reveal his new friend, Ben.

He saddled up in front of the basin next to Carmen.

“Hope this isn’t awkward,” Ben laughed, unzipping his pants. Carmen didn’t look over but gave a forced exhale of his own “Y’know with me being Vanessa’s ex and all,” he added. That was news to the shorter man.

“Can’t say she mentioned it,” Carmen replied, willing himself to pee faster.

“No hard feelings, though,” Ben carried on. “Always knew she’d find someone great…” he trailed. So what’s she doing with you? Was the unspoken second half of that like.

“Yeah,” Carmen zipped up his trousers, “she did.” He said it, even though he didn’t feel it. Vanessa dated a guy named Benedict who golfed at the club and wore a $100,000 Rolex in high school. He couldn’t say he was shocked but it was one thing to know about these facts and another to have them approach him at the urinal.

When he spotted his girlfriend again, she was carefully holding Rosie to her chest, Gina nearby sipping on her own cocktail.

“Hi, G,” he greeted warmly, giving Vanessa’s best friend a hug.

“Hi Carmy!” She squeezed him tightly. “God isn’t this just the most heinous gathering of people?” She asked, making him grin. He always liked Gina.

“I just ran into Vanessa’s ex in the bathroom, nearly peed on my shoes,” Carmen said, reaching over and grabbing his glass of wine before leaning down to place a big hand on Rosie’s back.

“Hi baby girl,” he greeted, smoothing his hand over her hair.

“Oh god, Benedict?” Gina asked. Vanessa shook her head as she bounced slightly in her heels, pressing a kiss to the top of Rosie’s bald head. “Our taste at 16 was… questionable.” She added.

“Questionable?” Vanessa laughed, “you married your high school boyfriend.” Vanessa laughed.

“Okay keep it down, I don’t need everyone here knowing that,” Gina hissed jokingly.

“Thankfully, I evolved over time,” Vanessa winked, stepping into Carmen’s side. She cradled Rosie carefully, dropping a few more kisses to the crown of her head.

“Well I’m very glad that Carm’s going to be her Uncle when you get married and not that dweeb,” Gina said, rolling her eyes. “Remember when he stole his Dad’s Aston Martin and drove through the gate to the soccer field?” Gina asked, sending the two women into a flurry of laughter and anecdotes. Carmen simply enjoyed their presence, the rush of blood in his ears louder than his thoughts when he weighted what Gina mentioned – being Rosie’s Uncle alongside Vanessa.

Not a single schmuck in the place stood a chance against what they had because they’d never get the chance.

Joining back into their plain of consciousness, he wiggled his fingers at Vanessa.

“Gimme the baby,” he insisted. He grabbed the burp cloth first before holding her gently.

“She’s a little milk drunk,” Gina advised, “nursed on the way over here so I could have beverage.”

“Where’s Tony tonight? Shouldn’t he be here?” Carmen asked.

“He should be, but he got called out to Rockford for some kind of work emergency,” Gina explained. “I want to believe he’s telling the truth, but I also think he just didn’t want to come to this,” she laughed. Carm nuzzled his face down into the downy wisps of blonde that were just a shade lighter than translucent on Rosie’s head.

“Be right back, I’m going to grab some snacks while the table’s abandoned,” Gina said, hoofing her way across the gym to the hors d’oeuvres. Vanessa boxed Carmen in, Rosie sleeping gently between the two of them as she slid her free hand down Carmen’s side to rest on his hip.

“I swear to God, Carmen,” she sighed. There was something about the way he was holding her, his biceps flexed just right and in that Italian-collared top she got him a few months ago.

“Remind me when we get home,” he said seriously with a promise that set her skin on fire.

She opened her mouth to tell him just how she felt about that when another pair of high heels approached.

“Vanessa, hi!” Short, readhead, botoxed.

“Loren, hello, it’s so great to see you,” Vanessa immediately snapped into socialite. “This is Carmen,” she introduced.

“Loren Grammar,” the redhead introduced.

“I’d shake your hand, but,” Carmen trailed, shrugging his shoulders softly as he visibly had his hands full with a baby.

“And what’s this angel’s name?” Loren asked.

“This is Rosie, she’s nearly three months,” Vanessa introduced. Carmen was waiting for the footnote that this was not in fact their child, but Gina and Tony’s.

“Just darling,” Loren replied. “Ness, I saw you’re still at Olson Group, Carmen, what do you do for work?”

“Carmen is a restaurateur and chef,” Vanessa replied, placing her opposite hand on his chest. “He was just named Chicago Mag’s Top Chef last month,” She bragged whole-heartedly.

“Well aren’t you lucky?” Loren smiled tightly, “a handsome, successful husband and beautiful baby – time has been good to you!” She laughed in a way that invited Vanessa to laugh along with her.

“So good to see you, Loren,” there was almost a dismissive tone, which the redhead caught on to.

After making a swift exit, Vanessa took a long drink of her wine.

“She was so awful to G and I in high school,” Vanessa laughed, “she spread a rumor in eighth grade that Gina lost her virginity to a tampon.”

Carmen was grateful he didn’t honk out a laugh right into Rosie’s ear.

“God it was so good to see her jealous,” she grinned, pressing her body against this again and lacing her fingers with his on Rosie’s small back.

“Jealous?” Carmen asked with a laugh.

“Of course, she was practically turning green in front of my eyes,” Vanessa laughed. “Just like she said, hot, successful man, cute baby…” she shrugged. “What’s not to like?”

Carmen shook his head in disbelief, but figured he’d go along with anyway.  

Another half hour of schmoozing before Vanessa decided they’d paid their dues. She crawled into the back of the car, shooting a text off to her father, before turning her attention to her boyfriend.

“Was it awful?” She pouted, crossing her leg over the other and leaning into his side entirely.

“No, but it would have been a lot less fun without G and Ro,” he justified.

“Agreed,” she nodded.

“So you and Benedict,” Carmen said, his blue eyes pinning her to the spot with a rakish grin.

“Oh don’t even start,” she laughed with a shake of her head. “My first high school boyfriend,” she laughed.

“Was he your first…” Carmen raised a brow.

“Thank God, no,” Vanessa laughed. “Though he did once dry hump me in his parent’s pool house,” she explained, making Carmen laugh. “His mother desperately wanted us to get married, it was super weird.”

“She saw a good opportunity when it presented itself,” Carmen annotated.

“Something like that,” Vanessa shook her head, “but it was even more odd when you factored in how much she used to hit on my Dad.” Carmen cringed. A beat passed. “I think if I’d had met you in high school I’d still fall for you the same,” she smiled, sliding a hand up his chest.

“Trust me, the only way you would have met me in high school is if you fell off the back of the bleachers,” Carmen laughed.

“Carm, were you a bad boy?” Vanessa gasped.

“I definitely cut more classes than I attended,” he began, “but I assure you, you wouldn’t have looked twice at me.”

“I’ve seen pictures of high school Carmy from Nat,” Vanessa began, “you were just as cute then as you are now.”

“Yeah, and high school Vanessa could have stepped on my neck and I’d thank her,” he countered, watching the brunette burst into laughter. “You were like a seventeen-year-old Victoria’s Secret angel,” He gestured wildly with his arms.  She slid a hand up the back of his neck, tangling her fingers in his tight curls.

“I assure you,” she used his words against him, “I would have been just as crazy about you then as I am now.” Carmen kissed her gently. “And if it makes you feel better, I think I still have the school uniform in the back of my closet somewhere…”

[taurussuitjake]

safety net (part 2)

hi again! here’s a steamy part two… enjoy! 2.1K words

warnings: SMUT (minors please dni), unprotected penetrative sex (wrap it the FUCK up dawg), fluffy smut, best friend!Danny

the moment felt so vulnerable. a small part of you was almost scared.

what was he thinking? does he think you’re only confessing your love because you just want to feel something? did he mean it when he said ‘i love you too’? as your thoughts began to race, so did your heart. and he was still holding you in his arms, two layers of clothing between you. he felt your heart thrum violently in your chest.

he pulled back slightly to look at your face again, trying to read you. per the usual.

“i didn’t tell you i love you just because i’m sad.” you look up at him through your lashes, you could feel word vomit threatening to fall from your lips. what do you have to lose? just say what you feel.

“i said it because i can’t stop thinking about it. i can’t stop thinking in general, but i just can’t stop thinking about how much i love you.” you blurred out.

he almost looked stunned, you caught him off guard this time. you continued with your confession.

tears began to brim your eyelids as you spoke, “i am so unbelievably grateful for you. i’ve felt so alone these past few days, but the one thing that i was never without was you. i never have to go without you. and i feel like it’s a miracle that you’re so patient with me.”

the corners of his mouth tip upward into a smile and you felt a tsunami of relief at the sight of it. you know him. you feel like you know his heart as well as your own, so why be so anxious that he doesn’t feel the same? it’s all there in front of you, every single time he’s near.

he grabs ahold of your hand and guides you down the hall and out into the living room. he says nothing, so you’re attentive to his actions. he leaves you standing in the middle of the room to grab the throw blanket off the back of your lounge chair and unfolds it to drape over your shoulders. you take the invitation and hold tight to the blanket around your neck. he grabs another one for himself off of the same chair and repeats your action.

“c’mere.” he says simply, motioning you over to sit on your large sectional couch; the big corner where you guys typically cuddle up together for a movie. you fall into the same place you usually do; tucked away at his right side. but this time, he wrapped his arm over your shoulder. you take the initiative and wrap your right arm over him, still holding the blanket. it feels like a warm little cocoon of sorts. you relax into his chest and drink in the moment. he holds onto you for a good 5 minutes before his right hand slowly starts drawing circles into your arm and he begins to speak.

“you act like it’s a chore to be there for you, and i have no clue why.”

you lift your head a little so your words aren’t muffled into the fabric of his t-shirt covering his chest, “i don’t really know why, either. i try to deal with everything as best as i can by myself. i don’t wanna burden anyone with what i go to war with in my head.” you say softly.

“i’d rather help you with your burdens than lose you though, Y/N.” he retorts with a loving tone. “i never want to be without you.”

you shift slightly to sit up and face him. he accommodates for your actions and loosens his grip around your shoulders to set you free. you hold out your pinkie, inviting him to do that same.

“never one without the other, i promise.” you conclude.

he smiles at you sweetly, his lips no longer able to contain the sight of his perfect teeth. “never one without the other.” he repeats, and hooks his pinkie onto yours, sealing the promise.

with that, you stay with your fingers hooked onto each other and you lean in slowly to peck his lips. he has other plans, though.

his free hand finds itself in your hair as he deepens the kiss. there has never been a more euphoric feeling than his touch, you’ve decided. one touch of his hand, and it’s like the curtains have been pushed open and a wash of pure sunshine trickles over you; you’re bathing in his light.

you can’t take the space in between your bodies anymore, so you gently unhook your pinkie from his and throw your leg over to the other side of him, straddling his lap, “is this okay?” you whisper in between kisses. “mhmm.” he hums against your lips. his hands unravel from your hair and the mess of blankets and find their way to your hips, rubbing small circles with the pads of his thumbs. just as his hand leaves your hair, your hand becomes engulfed in his curls and the kiss is as deep as the parts of the ocean left uncharted; the oblivion was comfortable and you both were clearly along for the ride.

as a consequence of being tangled up, you start to feel a familiar kind of warmth in the pit of your stomach. it laced itself through your muscles, hip bones and down both of your legs. involuntarily, you grind down on his lap ever so slightly and you’re met with the feeling of his length ghosting against you. it sends a shockwave through your body that prompts you to disconnect your lips from his- “i’m sorry, i-“

he cuts you off with the sweetest of kisses just underneath your jaw, and you tip your head back to give him more access.

“no need to be sorry.” his voice is dripping with a deepening lust wrapped up in unconditional love, almost by the second.

you’re swallowed by the feeling of his plush lips leaving open-mouthed kisses all down your neck. your hands are now both tangled in his untamed curls as you submit to the feeling.

“d-do you want to-“ you can barely muster a full sentence as he nips lightly over the skin of your neck and going back over to sooth over the marks he was bound to leave behind.

“only if you want to- we don’t have t-“ you cut him off.

“i want to. so bad.” you pine.

he looks at you in the eyes, holding your gaze for a long moment and says, “if you want to stop at any point, just tell me and we will, okay?” he states.

your heart is doing somersaults in your chest as you nod happily, reconnecting your lips with his.

you begin to get lost in one another’s friction; you grind down on his length, only growing harder by the second. he’s eliciting small moans into your mouth as you keep brushing your now throbbing core over him, he’s beginning to get restless, as you notice he’s tugging up at the hem of your shirt, a signal to lift it over your head. you oblige, pulling away from his lips to pull your shirt up and off of you.

as soon as your shirt hits the floor, his mouth travels down your neck and to the tops of your breasts. his hands cup both of them from the bottom and he wraps his mouth around one of your nipples.

“oh, my god.” you whimper quietly. he repeats his motions with your other breast, making sure to give both of them an equal amount of attention.

he disconnects his lips from your chest to look at at you; just checking in to make sure you’re okay. he kisses your lips attentively and rests his forehead against yours, almost breathless.

“can i touch you?” he asks quietly, his heaving calming down

“yes, Danny. please.” you breath out eagerly.

with that, he moves his hand in between your two bodies and dips his fingers into your shorts, completely skipping over your underwear. his fingertips meet your dripping core and he sucks in a breath through his teeth, “fuck, you’re soaking wet.”

as he begins to make tight circles around your clit with his middle finger, moans unlike you’ve ever made before fall from your lips. you tilt you head back at the euphoria washing over you.

you look back down at him, your brows knit in pleasure as he looks back up at you through his lashes.

“you look so beautiful.” he breaths out. you sigh and smile all at once; you’re practically melting at this point.

“so do you, baby.” you sigh sweetly into his ear. he draws out a moan that sends you over the edge in anticipation.

“Danny, please. i wanna feel you so bad. need you inside me, please.” you beg, no longer able to contain yourself.

“raise up a little bit, baby. lemme take off your shorts.” he said, his raspy voice matching in anticipation. he slides them down your hips and you stand for a brief moment to kick them off of your legs, and he takes this opportunity to unbutton his jeans and remove his boxers.

his length springs free and falls back down onto his stomach. you try to occupy your attention to lifting his shirt up over his head, but you can’t help but take in the sight of him like this. you climb back over his lap a brush up against his cock with your naked core. you both moan out in pure bliss, both of your heads lolling back at the skin-to-skin contact.

you pump him a few times in your hands before you drag his tip through your folds, gathering your slick to make him slide into your entrance easier. you line him up with your entrance and sink down onto him slowly. it’s the prettiest sight you’ve ever seen; seeing him come undone beneath you. his eyes flutter closed as his brows knit together.

“oh, fuck Y/N- you feel so perfect. so so perfect.” he sounds pretty moaning your name in such a way.

“you feel so fucking good, Danny.” you sound so fucked out already, but you two had only just begun. you move up and down his length slowly, making sure to savor every bit of the moment and memorize how every inch of Danny felt inside you.

hands tangled in each others hair, skin to skin and nothing else in the world weighing on you, he begins to fuck up into you at an unrelenting pace. the noises spilling out of your mouth began to grow louder as he seems to go deeper and deeper with each thrust.

“fuck! fuck Danny, i’m-i- FUCK!” you moan out, his persistence making it almost impossible to warn him of your impending orgasm.

“i can feel you baby, i know you’re close.” he breathes out, “i’m almost there, just a few more minutes, i promise.” the rhythm of his hips is steady as he goes even harder and deeper than before. that band inside of you was about to snap, but you held out as long as you could.

“cum for me baby, cum inside me, Danny please!” you might as well have been screaming. you wrap your arms around his shoulders and rest your forehead against his as you try to wait for him, but your vision becomes blurry as you feel your orgasm wash over you with the heat of a thousand suns. you tighten around him and his rhythm begins to falter; he’s not far behind you at all.

with one final thrust up into you, he lets out a drawn out moan from the depths of his chest. you feel him coat your walls and twitch inside of you; a feeling you had only dreamt about up until this point.

exhausted in the best ways, heaving and tuckered out, you both stay just like this for a moment. you rest your head in the crook of his neck as you try to catch your breath. your hand snakes up his chest and around his neck as you lift your head to look at him. he’s worn out, smiling sweetly up at you through half-lidded eyes.

“that was-“ you can’t even complete your thought, so, as he always does, Danny finishes it for you.

“perfect. absolutely perfect.”

you look down into his eyes, making sure his focus is a little more clear after calming down.

“so, does this mean you’re in love with me too?” you ask, giggling tiredly.

“you’re a couple years behind, but yes.” he giggles back, “so in love with you, Y/N.” he kisses your lips gently.

he taps your thigh ever so lightly and says, “would you be down for another shower, by chance?”

you chuckle as his question, “actually, i would be.”

[fearthetallman]

Krang Pie chapter 3

Warnings: family fights, angst, knives, light krang torture

[first] [previous][next]

Chapter 3

"Wow, loving the eyebags there, sleeping beauty," Leo quipped as Mikey walked into breakfast at 9AM. "Are they designer?"

Mikey had a variety of responses he could use but considering how they would have more barb than intended, he settled on a grunt.

"You sleep alright?" Raph asked through a mouthful of cereal. "You're usually awake at 6."

"Just couldn't get to sleep." He grabbed the orange juice and poured it into a bowl before realizing he should have used a cup. Too tired to get another, he sipped from the bowl. Maybe he should get back into coffee.

Truth be told, he had barely slept. Fitful nightmares of the krang breaking free and killing them all violated his rest. He woke up multiple times, tangled in his sweat coated blankets. He had locked the krang in his closet and hadn't checked on it since yesterday. He half hoped he had imagined everything.

Donnie jumped into the kitchen with way more energy than Mikey felt he could endure. "Gentleman, we have a robbery in pursuit. Ghost Bear broke into a wrestling museum and--"

"Ghost Bear?" Raph interrupted a little too enthusiastically. "What are we waiting for? Let's go."

He raced out and the others followed. Not wanting to fight evil on an empty stomach, he grabbed an apple and ran after them.

***

Their fight had been a success, despite how many injuries Raph had gotten trying to appease his former idol. Mikey laughed along with everyone making fun of him, right up until he returned to his room. The closet door was still closed. His hand hesitated a moment then pulled it open.

He gagged at the stench that rolled from within. A mixture of rotting meat, rubber and some other sharp scent he didn't care to learn more about. Had the krang died? One look at the cage told him no. But his troubles weren't over.

The krang, once the size of a cockroach had grown to the size of a baseball. Almost double the size in less than 12 hours.

"I must thank you for all the time alone," the krang said, its voice still squeaky but a touch deeper. "Before I had to constantly worry about being discovered and couldn't properly grow. If you keep me squirreled away like this, I shall grow three times faster than I planned."

A spike of panic needled Mikey's side. "How long until you're done growing?"

It preened its tentacles, inspecting them as if they were adorned with freshly polished nails. "About two months. I am still quite small." It paused. Glanced up at him. "But only about three days until I'm big enough to escape the cage."

"What?" He couldn't keep the fear out of his voice. "You can't escape. The bars are coated in acid. You'll melt if you try to get out."

"Yes, that's true. I would say I'd lose about 37% of my body to the bars." It grinned. "But I'm in my regenerating phase. I'll split into parts and there will be three of me. We might not all survive the process but one of us will."

Only three days. Dad and April wouldn't be back for another six. He needed to do something to stall for time. Something to keep it from growing. He closed the closet doors again.

"Wait. Where are you going?"

He had to force himself to ignore how much the krang sounded like a scared child. His empathy was such a pain sometimes. It was so stupid it didn't care how terrible the other pers--creature was. All his empathy could do was seek emotions and punish him for them.

Donatello was working on coding something when Mikey dropped by his room. Mikey pulled out his most carefree and upbeat voice. "Hey, Donnie?"

He didn't respond.

Mikey waved his arms and yelled, "Donnie!"

The softshell turtle paused his work. "Hm? Oh, hey, Mikey. Did you need something?"

"You know that vial of anti krang we all have?"

"You mean the serum we're supposed to keep in a safe and secure place at all times, the one thing standing in between us and another krang invasion. One of the only things we're required to keep track of and never misplace?"

Oh gosh this was going to be hard. "Yeah. I kind of…" Think of a lie, think of a lie. "Lost it." He cringed. "Any chance I can borrow yours?"

Donnie sat back from his work. “Michael, if you merely misplaced it, I can send Sheldon in to scan your room for it and—”

“No!”

Donnie blinked, taken aback by Mikey’s outburst. He had to think quick to recover.

“Every time I let Sheldon into my room, he always steals one of my comics and won’t give it back.”

Sheldon appeared after hearing the slander. “Hey!” He pointed a servo thingy at Mikey. “That was one time, dude.” A comic fell from his electronic shell. They all stared. Sheldon snatched it up again and flew off.

"I guess I'll look around my room again," Mikey said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But are you sure the other serums are in a safe place? No one can break in and steal them?"

"I assure you, dear brother, my safe locked behind three authentication codes, five ever changing seven-digit codes and twelve different motion sense lasers will not be broken into."

"Oh. Good." There goes his plan of sneaking out some extra serum. Looks like he was going to have to go old school.

Nearly every utensil in the kitchen was Mikey's. He was the one always buying new ones to make cooking a little easier or to whip up a dish in a way he couldn't before. The knives were the only exception. Dad had a nice, expensive set of knives that were gifted to him back when he was Lou Jitsu. They were the sharpest and the only ones his dad bothered to maintain.

Mikey considered taking a boning or a carving knife. They might be useful for what he needed to do. Maybe even a cleaver would work. But in the end, he settled on the utilitarian Chef's knife. It left him with more options.

The blade slid out of its holder with a metallic shwing. The light glinted off its tip. He could see his reflection within it. He looked scared and hesitant. His fingers tightened their grip and he clutched as a weapon and not a utensil. He had to be strong.

The krang almost looked scared when he returned. But the emotion its face was fleeting, soon replaced with annoyance.  "That is the most pathetic looking sword I've ever seen."

Anxiety over what he was about to do sent his heart thudding. He felt lightheaded and had to focus to not lose his nerve. "I think it's just the right size for you." He pulled the cage out and set it on the floor. "I'm going to give you one chance. Tell me what you did to Leo in the prison dimension."

"A krang never gives up intel. I've seen younglings that are more of a threat than you."

That sealed it. He couldn't back down now.

Mikey knelt down. Took in a couple of breaths. Then raised the knife and stabbed at the krang through the bars. It dodged. He pulled back and aimed again.

"You can't even aim right, you pathetic--" It screeched as the blade made contact.

He pulled the knife back again. There wasn't even any blood. He had only made a shallow cut. "Talk."

"Never."

He stabbed it again, this time making sure the knife sunk deeper. A few droplets clung to the blade. It still wasn't talking so he went for a third time. He pushed the blade even farther, wedging it back and forth so it opened a wound. It was so solid. Like cutting through a thick steak. It hissed, trying to grab the weapon from him. He yanked it away.

This wasn't working. He needed to cut it even more.

Mikey drove it into the krangs stomach, dragging down and slicing through its flesh. The krang cried out, a pathetic combination of anguish and pain.

His vision blurred and he realized he was crying. It didn't matter that it was a monster. It didn't matter that it would do even worse to him if it got the chance. All that mattered was that it was hurt and in pain so Mikey was hurt and in pain. He cursed his stupid empathy.

The creature wheezed, breathing hard. "I knew you didn't have the guts to go through with it."

He cried even harder.

 ***

It was a couple hours before he went out to interact with everyone again. They were skating around the ramp when he came out.

"Where ya been, Mikey?" Raph asked. "We missed ya."

"Cleaning your room hopefully," Donnie said, before pushing his skateboard down the ramp.

Mikey's heart stuttered. He stretched his arms out and faked a yawn. "Just been taking a nap. Super tired from last night, you know."

"Are you sure you're feeling okay, Mikey?" Raph asked, staying at the top of ramp with Mikey even as Leo came back up. "You've been acting kind of strange."

The world slowed. The sounds melted away until it was only Raph and him. He could do it. He could confess everything. He opened his mouth. "I just feel bad about ruining our fort."

The tension in Raph's shoulders melted away. "Oh. Is that all?" He reached over and pulled his little brother into a hug. "Don't worry about it, man. We'll build another one."

Usually, Mikey tried to avoid being affectionate with Raph. Over the years, he learned it only made Raph treat him even more like a baby, so he distanced himself. But it had been at least a couple days since he touched someone, much less hugged him, so the sudden warmth nearly made him cry all over again.

Donnie reached the top and skidded to a stop, picking up his skateboard. He glanced between the two of them. "Whoa, what did I miss in the 47 seconds I was gone?"

Raph rubbed the top of Mikey's head affectionately and this time he did pull away. "Mikey's been feeling down since the pillow fort got messed up."

Donnie sighed. "She was a thing of beauty. I can't blame him. Hey!" He called down to Leo, the only one skating now, right as he jumped to do a kickflip. "Did you finish Dad's cushion that Raph ruined yet?"

Leo turned his head abruptly at being called. The twist threw him off balance and he wiped out, landing hard on his left arm.

Everyone let out a chorus of horrified groans. Raph cringed. Donnie shook his head. "I keep telling him to pay better attention when he's skateboarding."

Terror lit like a flame in Mikey's heart. He slid down the ramp, stumbling a couple times and almost falling over before he got to him. "Leo? Leo!"

His brother laid still for a moment longer before struggling to sit up. "Ugh. I haven't messed up a kickflip that hard since I was seven." He looked back up to the others at the top of the ramp. "Thanks a lot, Donnie."

Donnie gave them a thumbs up.

"Leo, are you okay?" Mikey reached for his arm but Leo moved away. He waved Mikey off with his good arm.

"I'm fine. Probably won't even leave a bruise." Had he not felt anything?

"I still think we should at least look at it." He reached over, his fingertips only brushing the edge of Leo's glove.

"I said no!" Leo shoved him so hard and so suddenly Mikey fell backwards. The room was silent as Leo's words rang through the air.

Mikey was faintly aware that his palms were stinging from the harsh contact of the ground but all he could feel was fear. Leo looked at Mikey on the ground, then at his own hands as if they were foreign. His eyes swung around wildly. Scared.

"I'm sorry…I didn't mean to--" He cut himself off, running away. Retreating back into his own room.

Donnie and Raph slid down to their little brother. Raph helped him up. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Mikey shook. He turned abruptly on his brothers. "I told you something was wrong. Why didn't you guys believe me?"

Donnie, to his credit, looked shocked. Uncertain. Raph was grim. "Mikey, just because Leo lashed out one time doesn't mean we have to force him to talk about what happened back then."

Raph reached for Mikey, but he yanked his arm away. "Then what will it take, Raph? How many times does he have to break down before you realize that he is not okay?"

"I never said he was. All I'm saying is we need to wait for him to come to us."

"Waiting doesn't work!" He was raising his voice. Yelling. But he couldn't stop himself. Even though Raph was keeping his voice low and steady. That just irritated Mikey all the more. "Leo is never going to ask us for help because he doesn't know how!"

"Mikey. I know you think you know how to fix everyone but sometimes you can be wrong. Nobody has all the answers all the time."

"You know what? You're right." A dangerous energy crackled in his chest. He knew he should stop. He was going to go far. But the words gushed out of his gut like a river. "Nobody's right all the time. Especially not you guys. All of you like to baby me and treat me like I'm so freaking fragile when the reality is that you're the ones who are weak! You don't know how to deal with anything. I'm always the one that has to tell you how to communicate, that has to confront all the problems you want to ignore. I have to do everything for you because you're too stupid to figure it out yourself!"

He was crying. Sobbing. His frame rattled with each shaky breath he took. He couldn't bear to look up at them. Felt the heavy weight of their stare. Watching him lose his temper like a child. Before they could say anything more, he took off running. Retreating back into his own room.

[next]

[pinkkittysaw]

HI I DON’T WANT TO PUT ALL OF THE EMOJIS BUT I WANT TO KNOW ALL OF THEM FOR YOUR ASK GAME THX 🤝

MY DEAREST SAINT ty for giving me the space to be mentally ill about my beloved(s)

i’m answering these for clive since i’m the most mentally ill about him right now 👁️👁️

answers will be under the cut due to length (and some embarrassment)

🥺: how long have you two been together?

about four to five years or so

❤️: any talk of marriage?

not in any official capacity. though vows may have been whispered to each other on a particularly romantic evening. our souls are both intertwined for the rest of eternity ^_^

🕊️: any pets?

TORGAL!!!!!!! the most loyal and fluffy hound in all of valisthea. so warm and cuddly. such a good boy. i enjoy feeding him lots of treats. clive’s heart always aches seeing the two of us snuggled up together napping.

i also have a habit of caring for any strays that wander about

🫂: do you two live together?

yes!

💌: if yes to the last question - how long?

technically we’ve been living in the same place together since he arrived to the hideaway but we didn’t start sharing chambers together til a short while after we starting dating.

💭: where did you two meet?

the infirmary 😭 i was working as an apprentice under tarja at the time and aided in tending to jill when cid brought her in.

after completing my training i started going on assignments as a healer and would often join clive n co. 😌

🥰: have you met their family? have they met yours?

i have!!! i’ve met joshua, jill, his uncle and his mother (unfortunately). did not get to meet his father before his passing, sadly (RIP TO A DILF 😔)

i simply do not have living family in most of my selfships 😭😭 so he has not met any of my relatives

😜: who is the silly one who jokes and laughs a lot?

definitely me 😔 it’s always 50/50 on whether my jokes hit or not.

clive is funny but it’s always unintentional (whereas i’ll put in effort to make people laugh) he’ll do or say something and get a giggle out of me and be like ???

😯: have you two ever taken a road trip/vacation?

not intentionally. we’ve traveled lots of places but never for leisure because we’re both such busy bees. if we’re both not out on assignments we’re usually still working. i spend most of my time in the infirmary than not.

that being said, i do make note of all the scenic places we visit to bookmark them for when more peaceful times come. the first place i’d want us to go to together is the sea. i feel the most at peace there.

😠: what’s the worst fight you’ve had?

we both have a habit of running into danger especially when the other’s life is at stake heh heh i’d say the worst outburst was during one particular scare clive gave me with his injuries.

after patching him up i became sort of passive aggressive towards him and when he calls me out on it i kind of blow up about how he can be really reckless sometimes, that i understand the importance of destroying the mother crystals but his safety will always be most important to me (as selfish as it is) and it ends up with me sobbing in his arms crying about how if anything ever happened to him i don’t know if i could go on.

obviously he’s very powerful but i can’t help but worry!!!!!!

navigating our relationship with our joint trauma sure has been interesting 👍

🤑: who has the worst spending habit?

me 😔

clive is a man of necessity for the most part and while i’m not reckless per-say, if i’m out and have the money to buy a little trinket i probably will 😭

❤️‍🔥: how does your love languages differ?

tbh i don’t know which love language of mine is the one that i need most so honestly idk!!! 😭 i am the most greedy for love angel throughout the heavens

imo, clive is big on words of affirmation. gentle reminders that he’s not actually the big bad monster he often thinks he is. just sticking by him throughout everything means a lot.

😽: who likes pda?

we both do! though clive is more reserved than i. i kinda get in fits where i’m overwhelmed with energy and need to melt into him like butter and crawl all over him. there’s no containing me at that point.

though most of the time in public it’s just me holding him from behind or hugs. his embrace is always really comforting and calming and he always indulges me ^_^

though he won’t initiate kisses in front of others cause it makes him embarrassed. i’m always the one pressing a chaste kiss to his lips after finishing up in the dining hall, leaving him in his flustered state with the rest of our dining companions.

🛏️: who stays up late? goes to bed early?

depends on the day tbh. i’m the one who usually tries to go to sleep early, since i love mornings. sometimes we’re both up late working, or plagued with thoughts of the past. i usually fall asleep before he does regardless of what time it is while he keeps a watchful eye over my sleeping form.

😘: any pet names they call you? you call them?

clive and i are both chronic calling each other by their name type people 😭

but in more intimate settings, he’ll call me angel and i’ll let a baby or two slip out

👄: talk about your first or best kiss thus far

first kiss!! first kiss!!!

okay so it wasn’t long before we started dating. he had gotten injured while he was out and had to visit the infirmary. tarja wasn’t in and i was the only one running things. he had a few gashes that needed to be stitched as well as a few abrasions.

after 13 long years of fighting, i was the first gentle and “loving” touch he had. we’d friends for a short while at that point, some mutual pining going on though neither of us were acting on it.

at that point he was still in the mentality of not thinking he was deserving of any kindness due to what happened in his past. so when i come around gently stitching up his and tending to his other wounds, he’s taken aback. plus i may have been chastising him on being more careful cause there’s people around the hideaway (me) who worry for his safety and bla bla bla.

basically he gets overwhelmed with feeling and doesn’t know how to deal with it other than pulling me for a kiss. (mid stitch mind you!!! he was lucky no further damage was caused)

🖼️: who decorates the house?

both our stuff is has a place in our chambers but i’m the one who decides what goes where

[demetriandelibinaryboyfriends]

@ckhalloween22 BEHOLD, chapter 2 of my “Monstrous Transformations” prompt submission!!! AKA the chapter where I somehow make things even more fucked up and crank the suffering up to 11 :D And also the werewolf chapter. The very graphic and probably very disturbing werewolf chapter. Oops.

Here is Chapter 1 btw!!! This bad boy will also get an epilogue sometime next week because

My condolences to Hawk and Dem, they probably deserve financial compensation for all the absolute agony I am laying on them. At least they’re in love???

Big boi CW for some uh...fairly graphic body horror/transformation horror in this. Like I said, there’s werewolves this chapter, and uh...well, you know how it is. Full moon comes out and the trauma begins! Also CW for just general blood and gore. Werewolf morphing is not pretty. Where’s the fun in that?!

There’s also some kind of gross-out/twisted/black humor in this, I guess? The boys are traumatized and then use sarcasm to process it, as per usual. They don’t have to only be endlessly miserable about every terrible thing I throw at them XD

Fic under the cut--be warned, it’s another longboi! Even longer than the last one :O And moodboard pic credits available upon request, as always!

Nocturnal Chapter 2 - After Dusk

“What the hell were you thinking?!”

Demetri’s fingers dig into Eli’s shoulders so hard it probably hurts. Right now he’s too livid to care.

“Asshole, let me explain—”

“What is there to explain?” Demetri snarls. “You knew this shit was permanent. Like…incurable, life-ruining permanent. And you did it on purpose?! Just…Jesus Christ, Eli.”

Tears well up in the corner of his vision. He doesn’t stop them.

A little guilt-tripping wouldn’t hurt right now.

“I’m already so fucking scared all the time, running away from all the assholes who want to kill me. And now they’re going to hunt you, too.”

“They already were, moron!” Eli’s eyes flare, and he shoves Demetri away. “You said it yourself: I can’t be with you without putting a target on my back. And I already made that decision a long time ago.”

“I just…” Demetri’s voice comes out in a choked sob. “I didn’t want you to get this deep in all this. I thought maybe you could still have a normal life. And you throw that away?”

“What if I don’t want that?” Eli snaps. “I told you I’m not abandoning you. I see you keep giving me outs, like you think I’m suddenly going to run away like a fucking pussy. You think—what? I’m going to stop loving you because of something out of your control? It’s fucking insulting.”

“I…” Demetri shakes his head slowly. “I wanted to protect you. Always. I never wanted you getting hurt on my behalf.”

“And what about you, huh?” Eli takes a step toward him, fists clenched. “Who’s supposed to protect you when you’re running from killer mobs for the rest of your life? All alone?!”

“We’re not talking about me—”

“Yeah, we are! Because you don’t think you matter and I’m fucking sick of it. You don’t care if you die as long as I make it out. Because you don’t know how much it would fuck me up if you died, Demetri. And I can’t keep you safe if I’m just some…some weak, useless bitch!”

Eli takes a shaky breath, and moonlight catches the moisture under his eyes. When he speaks again, his voice is softer, more fragile.

“Do you have any idea how fucking terrified I was when we got ambushed by those slayers, and—and they held you down and burned you?! I thought I was going to lose you. And then I couldn’t—” His voice breaks, lip curling in disgust. “I couldn’t do shit. I threw everything I had into getting them off you, and there were still too many.”

Something about Eli’s panicked, desperate expression makes Demetri’s anger melt away. He steps forward, cupping his boyfriend’s cheek in his hand.

“You did throw them off their game enough for me to break out,” he says gently. “If it weren’t for you, maybe we wouldn’t have gotten away at all.”

Eli scowls. “We got lucky. What, were we supposed to do that every time? Run away and hope they don’t catch up? I’m done living like that.”

Demetri looks away. He’s right—it isn’t that different from how they used to be, running from every bully and praying they were faster.

“It was stupid, anyways,” Eli mumbles. “Thinking I could fend off trained monster killers with fucking karate.”

“Well, I blame our senseis for giving us the impression that karate is the most valuable and indispensable weapon in the entire world.”

Eli snorts. “Yeah, turns out there are scarier things in the world than kids with blackbelts.”

“Who would’ve thought?”

They both laugh, and Demetri’s agitation continues to gradually trickle away.

“Dem.” Eli breaks into a slow smile, his hand sliding over Demetri’s. “I can protect you now.”

His eyes are shining, bright like they used to be when he puzzled out a tricky line of code or beat his high score in a game. Nothing but innocent delight and pure, unabashed hope.

Demetri sighs. “Stop looking at me like that. You know I can’t stay mad at you.”

“Yeah, that’s never been your strong suit, has it?”

He huffs in defeat and pulls Eli into his arms, burying his nose in a now-rather-weathered blue mohawk. It smells like dust and dirt and leaves tonight, the usual faint blueberry aroma of the dye nowhere to be found.

“It’s just…” He noses Eli’s hair. “They’ll kill you on sight now. They’d at least hesitate if you were still human.”

Eli scoffs into his chest. “I’m a lot harder to kill now.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

He runs a hand along Eli’s back, trying to let the last of his biting anxiety ebb away.

“I don’t want to lose you,” he murmurs. “I don’t know what this’ll do to you, but…I want you to still be you. I don’t want it to turn you into something I don’t recognize. I…” He holds Eli a little tighter. “I felt you slipping away a year ago, and it scared the shit out of me. I felt like I didn’t know you anymore. I don’t—I don’t want that ever again.”

“Demetri, I did this for you.” Eli works his fingers in Demetri’s flannel. “Why would I leave now?”

“That’s not what I mean. Just…” He exhales. “Promise me whatever happens, you’ll try to hold on to yourself. Because…well, it’s selfish as hell, but I am so fucking in love with you, and I don’t want this whole thing to…kill that person.”

Eli laughs softly against him. “I promise. Guess it’s only fair, since you managed.”

“I also just…I’ve heard it really hurts, what with all the realigning bones and what have you. I don’t want you to have to go through that.”

“I mean. Didn’t yours hurt too?”

Eli suddenly pulls away, fingers trailing up to the scars on Demetri’s neck. They don’t sting anymore, although they’re still pretty unsightly.

Good thing his mom usually has spare foundation when he needs to go out.

“Yeah, but I couldn’t exactly opt out. And it was just the once.”

Eli shrugged. “I’ll be fine. If I can survive the ‘pain does not exist’ dojo, this’ll be nothing.”

“Speaking of, though.”

Demetri pulls Eli’s arm close, inspecting it.

He only glimpsed the wound when Eli first walked into his living room, and didn’t have time to get a good look before he was already yelling. The complete lack of evidence of any crying—or rather any indication that Eli was upset about this at all—was proof enough that the bite was no accident.

It’s ironic, really. Demetri took them into the backyard to avoid waking up his mom, but their shouting probably woke up the entire neighborhood instead.

The bite’s a nasty thing—a semicircle of deep toothmarks, the skin around them puffy and inflamed. They’re starting to seep red again, as if Eli had initially managed to stave off the bleeding only for it to pick up again.

“I put pressure on it,” Eli says. Reading his mind as usual. “Kind of calmed it down for a while.”

“Come here.”

He guides Eli down to the grass, pulling over the Ralph’s bag he set down earlier. He was pissed when Eli came in, sure, but not too pissed to raid his mom’s first aid cabinet and grab a few essentials.

He digs out a tube of disinfectant and antibacterial, starting to carefully spread them over the wound.

“So let me get this straight. Your plan was to wander around Topanga Canyon on the full moon, find a werewolf, and…bait them into attacking you?”

“Pretty much.”

Demetri scowls. “I do not know where to even begin with that, but first of all, you know there are actual dangerous nocturnal pumas out there, right? Like lycanthropy aside, the wilderness at night is one of the least safe places you can possibly be.”

Eli snorts. “Yeah, well, my chances of finding werewolves in a fucking Costco aren’t great.”

Demetri purses his lips. “You’re impossible. If I still had a fully-functional digestive system, I’m certain you would’ve given me a stomach ulcer by now.”

“Love you, Dem.”

He pauses to see Eli giving him the most innocent possible look and groans. “Stop using that to get out of trouble, Moskowitz.”

“It’s so effective, though. Can’t kick it if it works.” Demetri only rolls his eyes.

He squints at the wound as a new fear bubbles up.

“And you’re sure this was a werewolf, right? Not just an actual wolf? Or a coyote? Should I take you in for another rabies shot?”

Eli wrinkles his nose. “Nah. This thing looked too weird. Definitely part human.”

“I have to confess, I don’t get it.” He shakes his head as he continues to rub cotton pad circles over Eli’s skin. “If you wanted to be strong enough to back me up, why didn’t you ask me to bite you? I’m sure you’d turn out to be a more badass vampire than me, anyways.”

“Because you never would have gone for it.”

Demetri stops, glancing up. Eli looks so confident in the statement that it’s almost insulting.

“What—how do you know? Did you ever think to ask, Eli?!”

“You would’ve given me a speech about how your existence is a curse and you’d never subject me to that because you love me, blah blah blah. Never would have convinced you.”

“You didn’t even try!”

“Didn’t need to.” Eli scoffs. “Seriously dude, you are so fucking predictable. Like you’d ever ask me to give up my mom’s hilbeh dip for you. I’d do it, by the way, but the fact you’d act like it’s the tragedy of the century and throw me the world’s biggest pity party makes me like…not want to. More than all the actual annoying vampire shit.”

“And this is better?” Demetri gestures aggressively at Eli’s upper arm—undoubtedly one of the most disagreeable injuries he’s ever seen. And he’s broken an entire limb.

“Jesus, Eli. You could have at least told me you were doing this. I could’ve…I don’t know, given you a sword or something in case things got gnarly.”

“What, that decorative one you got during your 4th grade Aragorn phase? I’d swing it once and it’d break in half. Besides, you’d never have let me even go.”

“That’s not—”

“Yeah, it is, asshole.” Demetri curses Eli’s ever-present ability to read his mind.

He hates that Eli’s right. He shouldn’t get the satisfaction, after doing one of the stupidest things known to mankind.

“You would’ve bitched at me until you got your way,” Eli goes on. “And if I tried to go anyways, you’d follow me into the fucking werewolf-infested forest and get yourself killed.”

“And—and you wouldn’t get yourself killed?!”

“Clearly not, or I wouldn’t be here talking to you.”

Eli glowers at him. The sight has always reminded him of a chihuahua—undeniably adorable, but fair warning that the boy would bite if you pressed him any further.

And mind him, Demetri’s experienced enough of the bite of Eli Moskowitz to last a lifetime.

Demetri sighs. He really hates when Eli’s right.

The downsides of having someone who can so precisely predict your every move is that it’s nearly impossible to be crafty. Whatever your brand of cleverness is, it’s already been accounted for, with every last possible decision and outcome analyzed. What with the rainbow hair and the hammy, loud persona he still puts on in public, it can be easy for Demetri to forget Eli’s brain runs on mathematical probabilities, too.

Logicians are many things, but “charismatic and vibrant” aren’t usually among them.

Nonetheless, the more mortifying aspect of Eli’s intuition doesn’t outweigh the perks. Few things compare to the odd euphoria of having someone remember that his favorite flavor of fruit snack was sour cherry, and that as a preteen he insisted on having his ice cubed rather than crushed for the sole reason of liking the aesthetics of it.

He settles for an extremely annoyed eye roll before returning to wiping Eli’s wound. “Well, next time you decide to do something that will drastically alter the course of your entire life, please talk it over with me first.”

Eli won’t, of course. But perhaps he’ll at least consider it, and that’s a start.

Demetri frowns suddenly, something unsettling occuring to him.

“Do you…do you know who it was?” he asks softly. “Anyone we would know?”

“Kyler Park.”

“Wh—Eli!” He smacks Eli’s uninjured arm. “Are you insane? He’s a steaming shitbag! You really trusted him not to actually maul you to death when he got the chance?!”

“Demetri, Kyler is dumb as fuck. All you have to do is play dead once and he’ll think he annihilated your entire existence with a half-assed arm bite.”

A snicker bursts out before Demetri can stop it. “That’s all you had to do?”

“Deadass. I lie still for like a minute and he prances off into the bushes, howling like he won the AVT.”

And then they’re both laughing, holding each other and giggling and wheezing, terror and anger forgotten.

Eli’s right again. Demetri doesn’t know how to stay mad at him.

He slips a used paper towel back into the bag and pulls out a roll of gauze, starting to wrap it around Eli’s arm.

“Did you turn tonight?” he asks quietly, voice serious again. “Before you came over.”

Eli shakes his head. “I think it takes a while for it to, uh…get into my system.”

“I want to be there, then. The first time you change. I want to be with you.”

Silence. He looks up to see Eli frowning at him.

“That’s dangerous, Demetri. I can’t control it yet, I might—”

“—hurt me, yeah, I know.” Demetri snorts. “You can’t just steal all my catchphrases and shoot them back at me.”

“Doesn’t mean I’m wrong!”

“Eli.” He leans forward, sneaking a quick kiss. “I’m a horrific undead fanged monster that parents tell their kids creepy bedtime stories about. I think I can handle myself.”

Eli looks away, but not quick enough to hide a small smile. “You almost say that like you’re okay with it.”

“If it means I get to stay with you when you need me, then…yeah. Could be worse.” He scoots forward, leaning into Eli’s side.

“You stayed with me when I was going through all my crap,” he murmurs. “Even, yes, when it probably freaked you out. Let me return the favor.”

He feels Eli tense next to him, heart speeding up. Pure, raw fear.

Demetri recoils, concern rippling through him.

“Do you think I’ll hurt you?” he whispers. “On instinct or something?”

Eli shakes his head rapidly. “No, of course not! Never.”

“Then why are you scared?”

A silence.

“It’ll be ugly.” When Eli finally speaks, his voice is barely audible. “The whole thing. You won’t look at me the same way. I don’t want you to stop—”

He doesn’t finish, but Demetri knows what he means.

I don’t want you to stop loving me.

Demetri wraps long arms around Eli’s waist and pulls his boyfriend into his lap. He leans down, planting a soft kiss on Eli’s scar.

“Nothing about you can be ugly to me,” he murmurs, lips ghosting over the little line of raised skin. “You know that. And for the record, you could melt into a puddle of…I don’t know, toxic, stinky slime mold and I’d still be in love with you.”

He feels the scar stretch as Eli grins.

“Thank you.” Demetri’s fingers brush through Eli’s buzzed hair, massaging his scalp. “For sticking with me through everything. For having my back. I promise I’ll always have yours, too.”

Eli presses their foreheads together, looping thin arms around his neck as naturally as though they’ve always been doing this.

“I know.”

***

“You don’t have to do this.”

They’re leaning against Demetri’s car as dusk falls over Topanga Canyon, fingers interlocked. Eli’s eyes dart around nervously, scanning over the inky outlines of the trees over and over again.

Demetri squeezes his hand. “I’m not going anywhere, Eli Moskowitz. Deal with it.”

Eli huffs. “You’re already a nervous wreck. You don’t need more shit to haunt your nightmares.”

“What, like you being out in the creepy woods all by yourself, sad and alone, wailing in agony, without your wonderful boyfriend around to comfort you? Yeah, that would be a bad one.”

For a moment, Eli’s anxiety melts, giving way to a small snigger. “Do you ever stop running your mouth?”

“Not really. You should know this by now.”

Eli takes a step toward the darkening trees, eyes flicking up at the emerging stars. “Okay, last chance, Demetri. Drive home.”

“Not in your wildest dreams, pal.”

Eli turns with narrowed eyes, as though debating arguing more. Finally he huffs, shaking his head.

“Fine. But if it looks like I’m going to attack you—at all—you need to fucking run. Okay? And if I come to and find out I’ve gored you because you didn’t listen, I’m going to be pissed.”

Demetri shrugs. “Sounds reasonable. I’d rather not be wolf dinner if I can help it.”

“Do you promise?” Eli turns and grabs his other hand, squeezing tight. “Swear on your life or some shit. I need your word you won’t get yourself mauled trying to talk me down.”

“All right, all right! I swear on the honor of House Arryn. That was always your favorite, right?”

Eli sighs. “I’ll take it. Let’s just get away from the road.”

He pulls Demetri into the forest, grip on his hand vicelike. Demetri can feel the nervousness pulsing off every fiber of his boyfriend’s body.

“You don’t have to wait for me, by the way,” Eli mumbles. “If the sun’s about to come up and you need to leave, I can find my way home. I’ve done it before.”

Demetri frowns. “How?”

“I can track your scent.”

Despite himself, Demetri chuckles a little. “Oh, yeah. I guess now we can bond over how weird that is. What do I smell like, anyways?”

“Flannel and silicon. Like 5 different types of your mom’s body lotions. Sometimes stale tortilla chips.”

He blushes a little at how fast Eli answered.

“I, uh…yeah, I guess that tracks.”

The trees part ahead, silvery light trickling through. Eli stops, and Demetri feels his heartbeat pound through both of them.

“Shit. I think it’s starting.”

“Okay.” He squeezes Eli’s hand. “I’m here. I’m right here.”

There’s a sudden cracking and Eli’s spine distorts, twisting in unnatural jerks. He lets out a scream, doubling over.

“It’s okay.” He keeps his grip on Eli’s hand, guiding them both down to the ground. “I’ve got you. Just breathe.”

Eli’s entire body is trembling as they settle on the dirt. He meets Demetri’s gaze, eyes wide and panicked.

“Demetri, I—” He’s interrupted by more spasms, ripping down his sides. More snapping of bone, and Eli gasps.

“Eli!”

Demetri shouts his name without thinking. Eli’s panic has become his own now, surging through him like a California wildfire.

“Shit, Eli, are you okay?”

Eli shakes his head, pained tears starting to trickle down his face.

“I, um…I brought peanut butter balls with ibuprofen in them. You want me to get them from the car?”

“N-no.” His voice is shaking as violently as his body. “D-don’t l-leave me. Please.”

“All right. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Hold on, lemme just…”

In what looks like a taxing movement, Eli shrugs off his jacket and pulls his t-shirt over his shoulders. The outline of his lotus tattoo is just barely visible, hidden under a newly-sprouted layer of gray-brown fur.

The fur is crawling up his arms, into his face. It’s an odd sight.

And then Eli’s face starts to reshape itself.

Cracks and pops ring out as his skin ripples, stretching into something elongated and grotesque. “D-Demetri…”

He doesn’t have any follow-up. It’s as though he’s saying Demetri’s name to remind himself Demetri is a person. Somebody he knows.

Not just another piece of prey.

His mouth starts to extend, drifting open to reveal rows of gleaming, sharp teeth. The skin around it stretches, making an unsettling ripping noise.

“Oh, look at those chompers!” Demetri gives Eli a full-toothed grin, showing off the latest addition to his own dental assortment. “We match now!”

Despite everything, Eli laughs.

It’s a strange noise, a ragged mixture of a snort and a growl. Nonetheless, the quickly-morphing werewolf appears to be smiling.

Something sharp jabs into the back of Demetri’s hand, and moisture trickles across his skin. He glances down to see long, honed claws have torn out of his boyfriend’s fingers, blood pooling around every hole in the flesh.

This only makes Demetri hold onto him tighter.

“Demetri.”

Eli whispers his name over and over as he morphs, like it’s his last lifeline. Demetri feels a bulky, thickened finger brush against the back of his own, stroking almost frantically.

And that’s about when the real nightmare begins.

Eli starts convulsing, the cracks and pops and rips speeding up until he’s screaming in pain. Fur sprouts from every pore, bloody pieces of skin peeling off and fluttering to the ground. His muscles bulge, rippling just beneath fresh fur like they have a mind of their own. His face elongates more and more until a snout bursts from the center, stretched wide in a guttural wail.

It’s terrifying, but not for the reasons it would terrify most anyone else.

It’s Eli lying motionless on the mall floor. It’s Eli stalking through the computer lab in a frenzied rage, calling his name in a breaking voice. It’s Eli crumpled by the trophy case, glass pieces in his face. It’s Eli holding him down with shaking hands in the arcade, his peers goading him to crush any kindness left into dust. It’s Eli held down on the mat, about to be punched out by Robby Keene.

It’s the particular agony of knowing Eli’s in pain—deep, throbbing, terrible pain—and being absolutely fucking helpless to do anything about it.

That’s Demetri’s greatest weakness, he supposes—the one thing that always trumps over everything else. He can’t stand to see Eli Moskowitz hurting.

Now all he can do is try to be the anchor he never quite could before. Show Eli that he can’t make the pain go away, but he can help him through it.

He holds Eli’s hand until he can’t anymore. Eventually his fingers are pushed free as the bulky paw takes shape, the gaps between the toes narrowing too much for anything to fit.

When the worst of the shifting is over, Eli is a hunkering mass of mostly-wolf, whining softly. His ears, now stretched to unnatural points, are pressed flat against his head. He stares at the ground, working impossibly long claws in dirt and leaf litter.

“Eli.” Demetri takes a shaky breath. “Look at me.”

The creature doesn’t budge.

“Please look at me.”

Eli turns.

His face is pulled in strange ways. Slightly contorted, like someone tried to make a clay figurine and didn’t quite know what a wolf looked like. It’s a patchwork of fur and twisted skin, a squished nose that’s a blend of wolf and human. There are bits of skin and sinew and blood strewn around where fur forced its way out—and Demetri winces, because that looks like it really fucking hurt.

His eyes are still undeniably human, at least. Pale blue and spilling with emotion, just like they’ve always been. But the look in them is enough to shatter Demetri.

Regret. Fear. Shame.

He starts to turn away. Demetri reaches out and cups his cheek, stopping him.

“I love you,” Demetri whispers. “And I don’t—I don’t know how much of yourself you’ll hold onto tonight, but I need you to remember that. Promise me.”

He feels like an idiot as soon as he says it. Eli probably can’t even talk anymore.

But then he hears a tiny, rasping voice, its single word almost indecipherable.

“Promise.”

Eli collapses. One final convulsion, and any trace of humanity is gone.

For several moments the wolf just lies there, sides heaving. Demetri scoots back, rising unsteadily to his feet.

“Eli?” he calls tentatively.

The wolf’s ears prick up. That’s probably a good sign.

The enormous creature rolls over slowly, getting to his paws. He eyes Demetri skeptically, whining.

It’s very strange, looking at this great beast that has Eli’s eyes. Trying to figure out if Demetri’s imagining the recognition in them or not.

“Eli, do you know who I am?”

The wolf prowls toward him, growling softly. Demetri holds his breath and extends a hand, palm out and fingers shaking.

Please don’t be gone.

The wolf gives him a long look, ears twitching. Sizing him up. Demetri tenses his legs, ready to make a run for it.

Then he feels something soft against his skin.

Demetri looks down to see the wolf pressing a furry forehead into his palm, and he lets out a laugh of relief. “You do know me.”

The wolf grunts and looks up at him again, blue eyes almost annoyed. The sort of No shit, moron look he’d know anywhere.

He cups the wolf’s cheek and lets his fingers trail down, tracing the huge jawline. The beast lets out a puzzled growl.

“Hold on. I just…”

His fingers brush against a familiar line of raised skin, curving from under the wolf’s nose to the start of a long canine tooth. Buried under fur now, but unmistakably there.

Something soft flutters inside of him.

“Sorry, I just…I had to make sure it was really you.”

He leans forward, pressing a kiss to the scar. The wolf whines uncertainly.

He smiles, gently cupping the wolf’s huge face and bringing their foreheads together. “I’m glad you’re okay, love. I’ll stay as long as you want.”

They settle into a pile on the ground, Eli curled around Demetri’s skinny form. Demetri buries himself in the mass of gray-brown fur, stroking it over and over.

Eli’s okay. Eli’s going to be okay.

Right now, that’s all that matters.

***

It’s a while before Demetri gets another scare.

He honestly thought he had enough for one night, and would just as soon capped it at Eli contorting every which way and screaming in pain. Still, the universe seems unable to throw him any kind of bone without also making those bones look rather tasty to his boyfriend-turned-megafaunal-carnivore.

His first indication that something is amiss is the licking.

It’s endearing at first, if a little gross. He makes no secret of his gripes about having to shower when he gets home, and he’s pretty sure Eli licks him more after just to annoy him.

After a while, they get more insistent, and he feels less like an object of affection and more like a Trader Joe’s sample.

“Hey! Knock it off!” One lick too many, and Demetri squirms out from under Eli’s snout, pushing his massive paw aside. “I keep telling you you’re making a mess! You—”

He stops. Eli is giving him a strange look.

A chill ripples through him.

It reminds him of the looks Eli used to give him when they fought—cold, intense, ruthless. Although less angry this time, and more…hungry.

There’s something almost primal in his stare that Demetri’s never seen before. Swallowing, he takes a step back.

The wolf follows, uttering a low growl. His tail is raised, eyes bright and alert.

Ready for the hunt.

“Eli. It’s me.” He takes a shaky breath, dread starting to crawl through him. “It’s Dem. You don’t want to hurt me.”

Perhaps there was a time when that wasn’t true, but those days are long gone.

Aren’t they?

The wolf snarls, fur starting to bush up as he continues to advance. His haunches are wiggling, almost like he’s…

Getting ready to charge.

One last time.

Demetri tenses his own legs, preparing to sprint.

“Eli, it’s me.” He smiles weakly. “Codename zer0. Remember?”

The wolf stops.

He flattens his ears for a moment, looking confused. Then the realization seems to dawn.

He stumbles away, whimpering. Tail sweeping in low, anxious circles.

“Hey, it’s okay, it happens.” Demetri steps forward, extending a hand. “You didn’t mean t—”

The wolf turns and high-tails it into the forest. Demetri wants to follow, but he knows better.

He trudges over to the dirt patch where Eli first changed, clothes still scattered across the ground. Crouching, he picks up Eli’s black-and-red jacket and slips it on.

It’s the one he wore during the school fight, Demetri realizes. He looks over the striped sleeve with a small smile, shaking his head.

He wonders what the Eli from a year ago would think if he knew where his jacket was now, wrapped around the boy he claimed to hate while he prowled the woods as a monster he became to protect said boy. The irony is really too much.

Would “Hawk” find it funny, too? Would he be glad he and his best friend smoothed things out, figured out years’ worth of tension? Or would he just be disgusted with himself, knowing he’d end up letting someone like Demetri love him? Knowing he’d reciprocate?

Was he always in love with Demetri, even back then?

He never thought to ask Eli when it all started. He’s still wrapping his head around his boyfriend loving him in the present.

A long, mournful howl peels through the night, and a deep yearning churns in Demetri’s chest. He suddenly wishes he had the vocal cords to answer.

“I’ll see you soon.”

He says it to no one. He doesn’t know why. Perhaps to comfort himself when, right now, he’s all he has.

Demetri gathers up the rest of Eli’s discarded outfit. For a long while he sits with his back against a tree, holding it close.

***

It’s 10 am when Eli finally shows up at Demetri’s bedroom door, disheveled and dirty with his blue hair hanging down in a sad heap and reeking of raw meat. He doesn’t seem too bothered by his state, leaning in Demetri’s doorway with a casual suaveness that should infuriate him.

Right now, all Demetri can feel is relief.

“Holy shit, Eli.” He props himself up on his elbows, gesturing almost frantically to the spot beside him on the bed. “You’re okay.”

“Yeah, toughed it out like a champ.”

Demetri opens his arms. In a familiar ritual, Eli wastes no time darting across the room and crawling into them.

He might get dirt on the bed, but Demetri can deal with his mom’s lectures later.

“Sorry I had to leave,” Demetri murmurs, plucking a couple twigs out of Eli’s hair. “I wanted to wait for you, but…sun was coming up, and I didn’t want to roast alive. Or…roast undead, I guess?”

Eli laughs, nuzzling into his shirt. “Nah, man, you did the right thing. I also don’t want you roasting undead.”

“You feeling all right?” He brushes a hand through Eli’s hair, unearthing several leaves. “You were having a pretty bad time last night. I wanted to help more, but…I didn’t know what to do.”

“You being there helped.” Eli grabs one of his hands and starts playing with it absentmindedly. “Thank you. I know that was probably a lot.”

“I hate seeing you in pain like that.” Perhaps without meaning to, Demetri’s grip tightens. “It scares me. But I hate you being in pain by yourself more, so. I deal. Reminds me too much of when we were being kicked around growing up, and I never knew how much it was hurting you. I…never really forgave myself for leaving you to deal with that on your own.”

Eli sighs. “I didn’t tell you. You’re not a mind reader. I just…I don’t know. I thought I should be able to deal with my shit on my own.”

“Well, you never have to again.” He strokes Eli’s back. “And I’m sorry if I wasn’t there for you before. I will be from now on.”

“I know.”

Eli’s hand works in the fabric of his shirt, making its way up to his collar. He gives an abrupt grunt of disapproval.

“Demetri, is that my jacket?”

“I, uh…” Demetri blushes. “It smelled like you. Helped relax me while I was waiting.”

“So you’re the reason I froze my ass off the entire walk home.”

He laughs, pulling a wad of blankets over both of them. “Sorry, love. Didn’t know you’d lose all your fur before the sun came up.”

“S’fine. I guess if it stops you from flipping out all night.”

“Glad you got all the glass out,” Demetri teases, gently poking Eli’s side. “I’d feel kind of bad if I knew I ruined it.”

“Wait. Was that the one I—” Eli stiffens. “Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t remember, I just grabbed it—”

“Eli.” His hand finds Eli’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll keep telling you until you believe me. I’m not mad about any of that stuff anymore. It’s just a jacket. And besides…” He pecks the top of Eli’s head. “It’s cute, and it smells like you, so positive associations outweigh negative ones. I wouldn’t be getting cozy in it if it gave me terrible karate war PTSD.”

“I know. I still hate that I did all that, though.”

“And I hate that I told the entire school you piss the bed, but. You now turn into a colossal murderous beast once a month and I have to drink human blood to survive. I think we have slightly bigger concerns.” Eli mumbles disapprovingly, but doesn’t try to argue.

Demetri frowns suddenly, looking down at Eli’s small, bedraggled form. “How much do you remember from last night, anyways?”

Although he can’t see it, Demetri can imagine Eli scrunching his face up in concentration. “Just bits and pieces, I guess. I remember you holding my hand and telling me you loved me like a sappy bitch.”

Demetri snickers. “Yeah, yeah, guilty as charged.”

Although Eli’s tone is nonchalant, it sends a pulsing wave of relief through Demetri.

So some part of it all stuck. The monstrous wolf roaming the forest alone into the wee hours of the morning still knew he was loved. Still knew he would have someone to come home to. Someone who would hold him even when he was at his most…well…conventionally unattractive (i.e. in the process of transforming into a giant terrifying creature).

“I also remember you making me fucking ibuprofen peanut butter dog treats. Like who does that?”

Demetri snorts with laughter. “Offer still stands for those, by the way. I could also try Tylenol. That helps a lot with broken bone pain.”

“Ah, shit.” Eli tenses again. “This of all things I don’t deserve your advice for.”

“Oh, my god.” He jostles Eli’s shoulder playfully. “Are you still on about that? I think you breaking several of your own bones for my benefit, repeatedly, once a month, outweighs you breaking one of my bones one time.”

“Mmm.” Eli hums thoughtfully. “When you put it like that, it sounds like you need to sacrifice a few more limbs for me so we’ll be even.”

Demetri scoffs. “Well, unlike some people around here, my bones don’t fix themselves after they mold into giant wolf bones and back.”

“Weak.” Although it comes out like a taunt, Eli kisses Demetri’s chest as he says it.

Demetri laughs, giving his back another rub.

“Remember anything else? You still sore at all?”

“Nah. The aches stopped like an hour after I turned back.” Eli suddenly looks up at him with a tenderness that could euthanize him on the spot. “I remember you touching my scar, though.”

He’s hit with a surge of emotion, coursing through him like good coffee on an early morning and making him wonder how it’s cosmically possible to love a single human being with the sheer magnitude and intensity with which he loves Eli Moskowitz.

Demetri smiles, brushing a thumb over the rough skin. “It’s beautiful. I’m sorry anyone ever made you feel like it was something to be ashamed of.”

Although Eli rolls his eyes, his cheeks go unmistakably pink. “Ugh. You’re biased. Pretty sure you’re the only person who actually likes it.”

“Yes, and I’m the only person ever whose opinion actually matters, because I’m right.”

“You always think you’re right!”

“I have yet to be wrong. Well…in a broad sense. Why would I be wrong about your beauty mark?”

“Please. It’s a facial deformity.”

“Oh, what, you put stock in that?” Demetri’s lip curls in disgust. “Counselor Blatt’s entire visage is a facial deformity. And anyways, the woman completely believed you were a wholesome pillar of purity while you were wearing your hair in blood-red death spikes, so I don’t think she’s getting an invite into MENSA anytime soon. There are much more credible opinions to trust.”

Eli scoffs. “Like yours? You’re not subtle, Demetri.”

“Oh, I’d never try to be. But yes, like mine, because I’m correct. It’s a beauty mark.”

He leans down and pecks the scar. Eli groans, but thankfully doesn’t try to argue further.

“What else did I do last night, anyway? I remember you petting me, I think and then everything’s kinda vague, until—” Eli stiffens. “Oh shit.”

“What?”

“I tried to hunt you, didn’t I?”

His voice comes out in a strangled whisper, and Demetri’s heart breaks all over again.

“Hey. It wasn’t like that.” He kisses the top of Eli’s head. “You only looked like you wanted to eat me for like…a few seconds, tops. And I snapped you out of it pretty fast.”

“You…” Suddenly he’s being seized by his shoulders and slammed down into the bed.

“You moron!” Eli spits. “I told you to run if I started doing that kind of shit!”

“You weren’t really!” Demetri tries to shove Eli off, but his boyfriend holds fast.

“You just said I looked like I wanted to eat you! Is that not a good enough reason to haul ass out of there?!”

Demetri decides that perhaps he should omit the part about the repeat licking. Eli doesn’t need more ammo.

“That’s not you,” he says fiercely, clutching Eli’s wrist. “I know you. I know I can get through to you, and I know you’ll never lay a hand on me again. Or…a paw, I guess. Same difference.”

“You can’t count on that!”

Demetri sees wetness trickling in at the corner of Eli’s eyes and feels a twinge of guilt.

“I know you’re scared.” He reaches up, gently brushing the tears away. “And I’ve been there, too. I know what it’s like. But let me trust you the way you’ve been trusting me. Please.”

Eli shakes his head, sniffling. “I just don’t want to wake up and find you dead.”

“And you won’t.” He runs a thumb over his boyfriend’s skin. “These gangly legs are no joke. I know I used to complain about them killing my sex appeal, but they can take me very rapidly away from werewolves if needed.”

“For once in your life, be serious, Demetri!”

Eli glares down at him with an intensity he hasn’t seen in a while. He feels the other boy’s heart hammering through him, every muscle in Eli’s body squeezed as tight as it can go.

“I am,” Demetri says softly. “I promise I am. I need you to trust I can take care of myself. Okay?”

Eli exhales, some of the anger and panic seeming to drain out with it.

He pats Eli’s cheek. “I’m made of tougher stuff than I used to be. I think unless you start growing silver teeth or eating a bunch of garlic bread before you transform, we’ll be fine.”

“Still. You can’t be reckless like that—”

“Oh, look who’s talking! I don’t want to hear a peep from you, Mr. Rabies Shot Cobra Heist Cement Truck Vandalism Underage Drinking Breaking-and-Entering Getting-Intentionally-Bit-By-Werewolves Moskowitz.”

Eli releases a long sigh. “I hate that you have a list ready.”

“Yes, and for the love of god, do not make me make it longer.”

Eli huffs—a defeated noise that sends a ripple of satisfaction through Demetri. “How did you get through to me, anyways?”

Demetri snickers. “Oh, you’ll love this.”

“…oh no.”

“Demetri and Eli, binary—” Eli smacks him before he can finish.

“Come on, dude, that?!” His boyfriend looks at him in abject horror, and he bursts out laughing. “That’s so freaking—out of all the things I could remember about you, it had to be ‘Codename zer0.’”

“‘Codename zer0’ got you back into karate with that video and indirectly won you a trophy, as I recall.”

Eli lets out long groan, face pressed into Demetri’s shoulder. “Is that even our catchphrase anymore? It’s super weird now that we’re dating. We should be like…the Binary Badasses or something.”

“Like that sounds any less ridiculous.”

Eli elbows him in the stomach. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Fine, fine!” He raises a hand in defeat. “Binary Badasses it is. For you.”

Eli slides off him and nestles into the crook of his arm, finally releasing Demetri from his death grip. As tousled blue hair brushes over his chest, he notices something strange.

Eli isn’t exactly spotless—wandering around Topanga Canyon at night as a giant carnivore did a number on him. Scrapes, cuts, bruises, plenty of dust and forest debris still mixed into Eli’s luscious cerulean locks. But other than that…

No evidence of any ripping skin. No gougemarks, no deep lacerations, no lines of marred, torn flesh, carved open and shredded to make room for fur and snouts and claws and everything else. Eli looks just as tan and polished as he did yesterday evening.

Apparently he regrew everything with little trouble. It’s difficult to conceptualize—such a rapid myriad of creation and destruction, all in one night.

“I saved your skin,” Demetri blurts out.

Eli lifts his head to give him a baffled look. “You what?”

“All the skin and sinew and whatnot that peeled off when you morphed. It was lying around in the dirt and I didn’t know if you’d want it back, so…I washed it and put it in that bag over there.”

He gestures at the grocery bag leaning up against his desk—probably the reason why the stench of Eli’s hunting trophies hasn’t bothered him all that much.

“Wh—DUDE! What the fuck?! That’s disgusting, what—” Eli looks like he’s just witnessed a war crime. “Why the hell would I want all my own peeled-off skin back?!”

“Well, I didn’t know it would all grow back!” Demetri puts his hands up. “And I didn’t want you to—I don’t know, wander around LA as some shambling skinless mess trying to hold all your organs in or whatever.”

“Demetri.” Eli presses his palm into his forehead. “How would any werewolf survive more than one full moon if they didn’t grow their fucking skin back?”

“I thought it might be like…a reverse selkie thing, all right?! Look, I read up a lot on werewolves, but none of the Wikihows mentioned what to do with all the skin and muscle bits lying around. I thought if I just left it there, it’d get eaten by a raccoon or something. And who knows what that would do to you?!”

“Probably the same thing as if your finger got cut off and a raccoon ate it? It’s no longer attached to your body, who cares?”

“Okay, but what if not all your skin grew back? What if you were stumbling through the forest covered in holes—which, by the way, all kinds of microorganisms and viruses can just climb on in through—and then you try to reattach your old skin but it’s covered in dirt and you get super infected—”

“Demetri.” Eli buries his face in Demetri’s chest, groaning for perhaps the 17th time that morning. “That’s not—how would I even do that? By fucking supergluing it back on?”

“I don’t know, you tell me!” Demetri waves his hands in exasperation. “I just didn’t want to be in a situation where you needed your skin and I left it to the mercy of the elements like a terrible boyfriend.”

Eli sighs, crawling back onto his chest and looking at him with an almost pitying expression. “‘Metri, did you think werewolves had to get skin grafts once a month? Is there any insurance on earth that covers that?”

“It was just a precaution, all right?!” Demetri huffs. “I’m still figuring out how all this works. I don’t want to screw it up.”

“Then use your brain, dumbass.” Eli thumps him on the temple, and Demetri rolls his eyes. “Something that shapeshifted once a month and wasn’t able to self-repair would be a biological nightmare. How would that shit even function?! Gather up all the ripped flesh and cram it back in? Werewolves wouldn’t be around long enough for people to tell horror stories about them if they were constantly dying of tetanus.”

“For all we know, they could be.” Demetri shrugs. “Or septicemia. Or osteomyelitis. Or—”

“Hey. Relax.” Eli presses a kiss to his neck. “I, uh…I guess I appreciate you saving a bag of my gross-ass severed skin in case you needed it for like…emergency repair, but I promise you don’t have to do that. I looked into this shit too, and I think if we were supposed to keep my skin, the internet would’ve said something about it across like 15 sites. Now you really need to get rid of that shit before your mom sees.”

“Uh, well…”

Demetri bites his lip, and Eli wilts.

“Oh no. Did you tell her I’m—”

“No, no!” He shakes his head vigorously. “She walked in on me washing it, and I was about to bullshit something, I swear, but then she said that next time I needed to hide a body, I should let her know and she’d help.”

“Jesus.” Eli snorts out a laugh. “What the hell was she up to back in Greece?”

He grimaces. “Whatever it was, she evidently did a very good job of hiding her tracks. So much so that she can offer advice.”

“All right, well. We’re covered if the blood bank scams stop working.” He smirks.

“Holy shit!” Demetri shoves him, laughing. “You’re awful.”

“Oh, you fucking love me, Demetri Alexopoulos. Dog stink and all.”

He swoops down, grabbing Demetri’s lips in his own. As he pulls away, Demetri wrinkles his nose.

Although Demetri’s come to appreciate Eli’s initiative, he’s not sure it’s ideal right now. The shorter boy’s breath is abysmal.

“You do stink, though,” he mutters. “What were you doing all night?”

Eli gives him the same meek grin that always seems to get him out of trouble. “I…may have eaten a couple deer.”

“Ah! That explains the stench of rotting venison.” Eli gives him another apologetic smile, this time with some bits of deer meat still visible in between his teeth. “And next full moon, I’m leaving you breath mints.”

“Mhm.” He traces delicate fingers over Demetri’s arm. “That’s rich, coming from the human mosquito.”

“Your favorite human mosquito, though.”

“Dem.” More gentle brushing before Eli’s fingers stop at the base of his neck. “We match now, yeah?”

He looks down to see Eli’s hand on his bite scars. Suddenly he wants to cry.

His own hand flutters off Eli’s back, drifting up his boyfriend’s arm until he feels the slight bump of raised skin. His fingers ghost across the wolf bite, once something so insurmountable and now nothing more than a bit of skin that doesn’t fit quite right.

Not that different from his own fading bitemarks. Something he’ll get past eventually. Something that stays, but not in a way that has to hurt.

He smiles. “Yeah. I suppose we do.”

“You’re not alone.” Eli presses soft lips to the same place vicious fangs had once been. “You never were.”

Demetri pulls Eli in, kissing his hair. “Neither are you. I wanted to chase after you last night, but…”

He trails off. No matter—he knows Eli knows what he’s trying to say.

It wasn’t safe. They can’t always be safe for each other, as much as they wish they could. It’s just part of their natures—their new natures.

“You never would have caught up, anyways,” Eli mumbles. “Soon as the wolf wanted to hunt you, I got so fucking scared. I ran as far as I could.”

Demetri feels an ache in his chest.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean t—”

“Not your fault,” Eli cuts him off. “I should have made you leave sooner. Chased you off or something. But I wanted you to stay. Kind of selfish, I know.”

Demetri smiles. “Good to know I’m not the only one. I should’ve done the whole ‘drive you away for your own safety’ thing with you ages ago. Was…the rest of your night okay, at least?”

“S’fine.” Eli shrugs against him. “Did some hunting. Enjoyed all the scents. Howled really loud. Ran around.” He sighs. “Got old, though. It was lonely. Kind of wished not everything that saw me cowered and ran.”

“Oh, you would’ve loved that last year, though.”

“Ugh. Don’t remind me.” He feels Eli’s face twitch into a scowl. “I guess that’s the thing about being at the top, isn’t it? You just feel alone.”

“I can imagine. I’m sorry.” He massages Eli’s scalp. “And…I’m sorry I flipped out at you last month. I know you were trying to help, and I know you can make your own choices. I guess I just…I worry about you. And I’m probably always going to worry about you. Hard to kick a habit I’ve had my entire life.”

Eli hums into his neck. “I’m sorry I worry you. I don’t mean to.”

“I know. If anything, I probably smother you too much. I used to try and shelter you away from every bad thing that could happen. I was never very good at it, though.”

Eli snorts. “Used to annoy the shit out of me. Not…when we were kids. I needed it back then. But when I dyed my hair and stopped taking shit, you acted like I’d been…I don’t know, corrupted, and you needed to heroically save me or whatever.”

“I kind of did, though.” Demetri snickers, flicking Eli’s shoulder. “You saw poor little Demetri in an arm bar, and that triggered your whole ‘Simba, remember who you are’ moment.”

“Well, you looked so pathetic I couldn’t help myself. Never seen a sadder sack of disproportionate limbs.”

“Oh, you take that back!” He grabs Eli’s shoulders and easily rolls on top of him, pinning him down. Eli cackles. “You are such a little—!”

“Demetriiiii.” Eli does his best pout. “I was out being a sad, lonely wolf monster all night. You wouldn’t get mad at me, would you?”

Demetri smacks his shoulder. “You’re such a brat.”

“Oh, but you want to be my knight in shining armor so fucking bad.”

It’s Demetri’s turn to pout. He looks away, feeling his cheeks heat up.

“It was…kind of flattering, you know.” He feels Eli’s fingers start to comb through his hair. “You being all fussy and suffocating. I didn’t realize I wanted it back until I was in Cobra Kai.”

“Classic Eli Moskowitz.” Demetri clicks his tongue. “Always wanting what he can’t have.”

“It felt nice, though. Knowing someone cared that much. Even after everything.”

Demetri refuses to look at him. Eli is undoubtedly hitting him with the doe eyes, and he refuses to give his boyfriend the satisfaction of watching all Demetri’s annoyance melt away in real time.

Besides, it won’t exactly help how much his face is still flushing.

“I’m not an anomaly.” He sighs, shaking his head. “Lots of people care about you, Eli. Yas, Moon, Miguel, Chris, Mr. LaRusso, Sam, Bert and Nate, your parents…”

“Yeah, and could any of them stomach that shit at Topanga?”

Finally, he looks down. Eli is gazing up at him with a thoroughly dubious expression.

“Could they?” Eli asks again, eyes flaring.

Demetri sighs.

“Probably not.”

“And that’s why I love you.”

He pulls Demetri’s neck down and kisses him like it’s the most vital thing he’s ever done.

Eli tastes wild—like fur and wood and leaves and berries and streamwater and fresh-killed deer. It’s a far cry from what Demetri used to fantasize about, all warmth and cinnamon and old books and cable-knit sweaters. It’s different from how he used to taste too—the kisses with reckless adrenaline and fresh sweat and sharp, chemically-scented Axe.

Eli Moskowitz never runs out of ways to surprise him. Demetri is finding he doesn’t mind at all.

He’s not even that bothered by deer breath. Not really. It’s Eli, and Demetri loves him with his entire being. Even when he stinks.

He cups Eli’s cheek in his hand, holding it like it could dissolve at any moment. It has to be the hundredth time they’ve done this, but regardless.

If Demetri had a heartbeat, it would still be racing.

“Demetri.” Eli is the first to pull away, hand loosening against Demetri’s neck as he leans back. For a moment they both hover there, lips only an inch apart.

“I’ll always come home to you,” Eli whispers against him. “No matter what.”

Demetri beams, bringing his forehead down to meet Eli’s.

“I know.”

***

Y’all remember when Trader Joe’s had samples??? Before the pandemic??? Because I do. Different times, goddamn. (Also CK canonically takes place in like 2018/2019ish so Trader Joe’s does indeed still have samples lmao)

I’m kind of obsessed with the idea of Demetri kissing Eli’s lip scar while he’s in wolf form. Idk man I Just Think It’s Neat.

Actually added a bit more to this than there originally was concerning Eli rewearing his S2 school fight jacket. I kinda like doing introspection with these boyos where they think back to the “enemies” phase and are just like “Well that was stupid” while also being morbidly fascinated and trying to psychologically untangle whatever tf was going through their heads XD

I really love writing Demetri in these kinds of AUs because you will subject the boy to horrors beyond human comprehension and he’ll just be like. Aggressively practical about them. “You shed your human skin in a bloody, disturbing mess when you transform into a werewolf??? Better hold onto that, you might need it later.” The best part is that his neurosis actually overrides his rationality half the time (not unlike myself lmao), so he’ll be over here catastrophizing while Eli is actually chillin and thinking things through logically (since he’s over the whole “get mad about everything” thing). They share a brain cell. Demetri thinks he’s the one who usually has it, but he’s wrong.

This goes with this btw!!! Basically took this bit and turned it into a whole scene. Demetri does indeed stay with Eli while he goes into wolf form so he doesn’t feel alone <3

Still giggling over the fact that for once I made Demetri the Red Gay and Eli the Blue Gay in the moodboard akajidpwbaiyvf

[tb-gerschutz]

Chapter Ten

Word Count: 5,055

Trigger Warning(s): some romantic tension, descriptions of something evil (specifically Balor, but it gets pretty dark), possible cursing, etc.

Summary: Whiskey and Veronica have some fun while at the ski lodge...

******

Of course, the war against Balor was all I could even think clearly about. It’s been running through my head ever since I first got involved in it two years ago. Balor Devlin is the baddest, most dangerous monster I’ve ever had the displeasure of encountering, and he somehow succeeded in getting in my head. I mean, he’s only in my head because I know what he’s capable of. He’s capable of plenty of awful things, most of them being large-scale. 

He wants to instill fear wherever he walks. 

But in all of his attempts to draw out the fear that I have against him, he has failed multiple times. I’ll admit it. I’ll admit the fact that I am scared to death of Balor and what he’s capable of doing. He’s the most dangerous person I’ve ever come face-to-face with, but I’m not going to show my fear toward him. That would only amplify the fact that he’s winning this fight.

That is definitely not going to happen! Not on my watch!

Meanwhile, Whiskey and I had finally arrived at our suite, and it surely did not disappoint. Our suite was so spacious that it could possibly fit a small family. A small, rich family, that is. All the amenities—all the items that were inside this very suite—most likely cost more than me and my twin’s births combined! It seems like only rich, aristocratic assholes could afford staying here for an ungodly amount of time. 

And lucky for Whiskey and I, we’re able to stay here until we have to flee dastardly Balor again. 

“You’re sure you were able to pay for us to stay here?” I asked. “I mean, it’s so huge and grand and—and wonderful.”

Whiskey chuckled. “Yes, sugar. I’m absolutely sure. You wanna know how I’m absolutely sure? Well, I’m the one who put my card into the thinga-ma-bob to pay for it!”

“Thinga-ma-bob?” I questioned incredulously. 

“Yeah. The thingy that reads the credit cards—that thingy—oh! Never mind!” Whiskey answered. 

I laughed as I flopped onto a big sectional couch that was made out of brown leather. Surprisingly, it was very comfy. So comfy that I most likely could fall asleep on it. 

“Whiskey, you gotta check this couch out! It’s so comfy,” I said out loud. 

One of Whiskey’s eyebrows arched upward. “Really?”

“You would think that leather would be kinda sticky and not very comfortable, but it is, Whiskey!” I claimed. “It’s almost like sleepin’ on a cloud. A white, fluffy-as-fuck cloud.”

“Fluffy-as-fuck cloud? That’s a new one,” he said. “I’ll have to keep that one in mind.”

I shrugged. “Well, I told the truth, didn’t I?”

“Yeah. You did—and I’m proud of you for that,” he answered. “Honesty is the best policy. And I’d much rather you be honest with me than not. Then, we won’t get ourselves in a bigger shithole than we’re in right now.”

“Glad we recognize the same thing,” I said depressingly.

“Recognize what?” Whiskey asked.

I sighed. “That we’re in a huge shithole.”

“Well, it’s the truth,” he said. “We’re in a big shithole. Have been for a while now, and if we don’t get out soon, then we’re pretty much fucked.”

I nodded solemnly. “I know,” I responded simply. 

He gently held my face within his hands, looking deep into my eyes as per usual. “But don’t you worry, Rocky. We’ll get through it. We’re gonna win this war.”

I smiled just slightly. I had just the slightest hope that we’d win, but in this dark era where Whiskey and I are on the run, I’ve lost some of the hope I used to have. I guess that’s the way people think. They hold out as much hope as they can in the beginning, and once the dark of the tunnel starts to collapse onto them, they think there’s no hope in sight.

That’s why they give up and surrender under a power greater than them. 

You see, the thing about heroes is that—they always do what’s right, even if the pressures of evil power are struggling to break them down and failing to make them surrender. They don’t give up until there is widespread peace and order across a given region or the world, for that matter. But they keep their struggles and loss of hope concealed from those who believe in them. They have this added pressure of bringing hope to the innocent and not failing them, so they keep the struggles concealed so that the innocent don’t express concern or worry over a second coming. 

A second coming of untimely death and ruin.

But I don’t consider myself a hero, by any means. Despite what others may think, I’m most certainly not a hero. I’m simply someone who’s concerned about the safety and future of the world. I want to be able to have a safe, secure future, and I’m sure other innocent lives around the world would agree with me. That’s why I feel pressured—or obligated—to team up with Whiskey and stop Balor. He’s a very dangerous individual, one that is considered the Devil personified.

And if we don’t stop him, then he’ll bring the world to a ball of flaming ash. A real-life iteration of Hell itself. 

I don’t want that to happen, mainly because it’s such a cruel, inhumane idea to have. How could one have such a dark thought like that one? I certainly can’t fathom having such an idea, and it goes to show how twisted one can become and the consequences from such. 

So in all seriousness, I’m not a hero. I’m just someone who feels the need to protect herself and those who are innocent. Heroes simply stop the villain to get a traditional storybook ending and keep saving the world as part of their way-of-life. Not me! I just want to save the world once and guarantee the safety of everyone for as long as they shall live. 

“Rocky?” I heard Whiskey’s voice call out. “Rocky. Earth to Rocky!”

I snapped back into reality once he called that out. “What? Oh! I’m so sorry, Whiskey. I’m so sorry.”

“For what? Doing something harmless?” he questioned. “Rocky, I ain’t gonna light a fire up your ass because you did somethin’ completely harmless. Spacing out is harmless. Actually, I know that spacing out is a major sign of anxiety. But I ain’t gonna light a fire up your ass because you did somethin’ harmless.”

“You ain’t mad?” I asked.

“Why in the hell would I be mad at you, sugar?” he responded. 

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s the anxiety-riddle part of me. I’m not sure.”

He patted my shoulder and smiled, showing that he accepted me for who I was, even though I may have several flaws to my name. “That’s okay, sugar. I love you just the way you are.”

God, Whiskey! Why do you have to be so goddamn irresistible? Just when I think I can put you out of my mind, you somehow waltz right back in. Damn you, Whiskey! But of course, I mean that in the best of terms. I love Whiskey so goddamn much, and I don’t know what I’d do without him. He came into my life so unexpectedly, and I thank God every day that he did. 

Without him, I’d be digging myself a deeper hole than I’m already in.

“Now, come on. Get your snow gear on,” Whiskey said. “We’re going skiing.”

“I’ve never done that,” I replied. “Can we also snowboard?”

Whiskey nodded. “Of course, princess.”

God, he’s such a sweetheart! I don't know what I’d do if he wasn’t in my life. I’d tell you what. I’d probably be dead! If not for Whiskey, then I’d probably lose my mind so much that I’d wither away slowly or suddenly. Without him, I’d either become stupid enough to get myself killed or stupidly allow my demons to basically force me to kill myself. Whiskey is my life support, my rock…and without him, I wouldn’t be in this world. 

“Come on, sugar. Hurry up,” he prodded impatiently as I waited by the door. 

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist, pal,” I said. “I gotta get my snow gear on. Sorry if I don’t wanna freeze my tits off!”

Whiskey chuckled. “You know I’m just fuckin’ with ya, right?”

“Yeah, I know,” I answered. “I just don’t wanna ruin the vibe and make things awkward.”

“Sugar, don’t worry about that. Even if things are awkward between us, I’m still gonna love you,” he explained. “I mean, to be honest, I haven’t loved anyone this much before, and if I did, it’s been a long, long time.”

I raised my line of sight to meet his eyes directly. “Not even your high school sweetheart?”

“At the time, I loved her very much,” Whiskey responded, “but that was an era that took place a long time ago. Now, I’m learning to live in the moment and not focus on the past. And living in the moment now means loving and caring for you, just like my sweetheart would’ve wanted.”

“She would’ve wanted you to care for someone else?”

“She would’ve wanted me to be happy,” Whiskey clarified. “She would want me to live in the present as much as I can and not focus so much on the past.”

He ran his finger along the side of my face as gentle as a feather. “And if she were here right now, she would’ve loved you.”

“Really?” I asked. 

He nodded. “Absolutely. She would’ve loved you because you made me happy. You changed me, and she would’ve loved you for that and so much more.”

Whenever Whiskey would mention his past love, I would fight so hard not to cry out uncontrollably. Such a sweet, caring man like Whiskey deserves the world, and to lose the love of your life and your unborn child is just—just devastating. Losing anyone you were extremely close with is detrimentally upsetting. 

I mean, look at my life, for Christ’s sake. 

I lost my twin brother when I least expected it. He and I were best friends, the typical “two peas in a pod”...we were attached at the hip. Without Devin, I was completely lost and insane, and I’m sure if he were alive today, he’d say the same thing about me. We were each other’s rocks, best friends, supporters—Hell, we considered ourselves closer friends than I had in high school. Devin was the only friend I needed.

And with him gone, I—I really don’t know who I am anymore. 

That was, until Whiskey somehow waltzed into my life. Never in a million years would I have imagined someone like Whiskey to come into my life. I never thought of it! Maybe it was because I was too consumed in my own dark thoughts to even try to think about love. For the longest time, I grieved Devin’s death. Most people would tell me to let it go and move on because it happened so long ago.

“It was just your twin brother. Move on,” they’d say.

Well, I can’t move on! And I don’t think I ever will move past that. Devin was not just my twin brother, but he was also my best friend, my biggest supporter, and so much more than that. How the hell am I supposed to move on when the person I grew the closest to has been taken from me far too soon? It would be different if I lost an acquaintance or someone I wasn’t all that close with, but this is my fucking twin brother we’re talking about.

He was the closest thing I had to happiness before Whiskey came along.

And to have him taken from me is just—is just devastating. I don’t plan on moving on from that ever again, but I’ll promise to make the guilt and grief much easier and less painful to cope with. And how do I plan on doing that, one might ask?

By hunting down and killing the person who was behind all this.

The person who was behind Devin’s murder, and the person who could’ve orchestrated it all—They don’t deserve to live another day here on Earth because of that! They killed my twin brother, which meant that they very easily earned a one-way ticket to death’s world…The darkest Hell imaginable. They deserve to live there for the rest of their Godforsaken days, and I don’t care how they get there.

I just want to be the one that escorts them to Hell myself. 

* * * * * *

I later decided that it wasn’t worth it to just wallow in my grief’s shadow any longer. I had to put my mind off of it if I were to continue fighting valorously against Balor and his dark, cruel empire that he rules with a fiery, iron fist. So in order to put my mind on something else, I went along with Whiskey to the snowy slopes to snowboard, ski, and whatever the hell else snowy adventurers do here. 

Very quickly, however, Whiskey turned on a one-eighty and decided to snowboard with me, despite wanting to ski. It’s terrible that he didn’t have his skiing equipment. 

Shame. 

We stood precariously at the top of one of the biggest hills at this ski resort. No one knows exactly what it was called, but after looking at the path ahead, Whiskey and I had our own name for it.

“Diamondback Run? Really?” I questioned, my voice muffled by the tight scarf over my nose and mouth.

“Well, yeah,” Whiskey said. “Judging by the slope of this thing and by warning signs we already passed, it looks like it’s a black diamond run, which means it’s for advanced skiers and snowboarders. But don’t worry. I have faith in the two of us, given our expert coordination.”

One of my eyebrows hooked upward. “You really believe that?”

“Well, sure. It’s better to have enough confidence than either too much or none at all,” he answered. “You have too much confidence, then you get cocky. Too little, and you’re timid enough to not engage in death-defying risks. Some confidence can carry you a long way, but it has to be at a level that Goldilocks herself can deal with.”

“Not too much, not too little. It has to be just right,” I concluded.

He nodded. “Exactly.” He adjusted his gloves so that they stayed secure on his hands. “Now, are we gonna run this or not?”

“Of course we are!” I exclaimed, allowing my snowboard to fall onto the snow below before strapping my feet to it. “Momma didn’t raise no bitch!”

“I can tell,” Whiskey commented. 

After much bantering, Whiskey and I finally strapped ourselves to our snowboards and took off down the Diamondback Run. I was scared for only a hot minute, but once the adrenaline started to course through my veins at a high rate, I was perfectly fine. I was perfectly fine with going down a decently steep hill. It was the first time—in a long time, actually—that I finally felt free. Free to let go of my God awful past and just—live. I don’t think I’ve ever truly lived in ages. Not since Devin’s death.

I could feel the cold, bitter wind bashing itself repeatedly against my face as both Whiskey and I zipped down the slope quicker than the speed of light. It felt liberating to go down that decently steep hill and just let loose. It was like all my life’s troubles sort of—detached themselves from my shoulders and disappeared temporarily without a trace. It felt very relieving, to say the least…and if I did something like that again, I certainly wouldn’t complain.

Once Whiskey and I got to the bottom of the slope, we both turned to our sides so that the boards would scrape against the snow, stopping us in our tracks. I was disappointed that it all had to end, but I knew that I could—very easily—do it again. Again and again until I was exhausted. 

I exclaimed with great joy at the moment the two of us stopped. “Ooo-ee! That was great!”

“You really think that risky-ass hill was a great thing to snowboard down?” Whiskey asked.

I nodded. “Fuck yeah, I do!” I detached the snowboard from my feet temporarily. “Let’s try something more dangerous.”

Before I could march a single inch up the slope and off to another, more dangerous one, Whiskey grabbed my wrist and yanked me back. “Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast, sugar.”

He yanked me back so hard that I actually fell backward, with my back and ass landing on the snow behind me. Whiskey was damn lucky that I was wearing the proper body protection, or else I would’ve froze my ass off. 

“Damn you, Whiskey,” I said through fits of laughter. “Damn you.”

Whiskey shrugged as if he was proud of himself. After trying to keep his beaming, boastful manner, he eventually descended into fits of laughter as intense as mine. We were just having the best time together, provisionally forgetting about the war we were fighting. It made me feel free from all the danger that Whiskey and I were facing, even if it was only for a little bit. 

* * * * * *

A couple hours passed, and Whiskey and I had already completed four runs on the most dangerous hill at the lodge. Even though it didn’t have a name, Whiskey and I called it “Hell’s Descent”, mainly because of its steep, unpredictably dangerous nature. It has crazy twists and turns, and the steepness of it made the run even more dangerous. 

Whiskey and I were right in calling it “Hell’s Descent”. 

We were back at our lodge, warming up from a bitter day on the slopes. I was curled up on the leather couch, warming up next to the roaring fire in front of me. Whiskey, meanwhile, was warming his hands up after putting some more firewood inside. I offered to put the wood in, but my attempts had failed.

“You’re a princess, sugar. You deserve to not lift a finger,” Whiskey said, protesting my intentions. 

Of course, I nearly melted when he called me a princess. Hell, I melt when he calls me any pet name. That’s why I relented to Whiskey’s command, only because he utilized my biggest weakness against me. I felt bad for not helping, but that’s how I was raised. I was raised to be someone who helps any opportunity they get—to be a helping hand. So when I met Whiskey and started receiving princess treatment, it felt awkward because all my independence—all my helping nature—wasn’t able to be put to good use. 

I’ve gotten more used to it over time, but I still haven’t quite made it a habit.

After he gave me my peppermint hot chocolate knowing damn well I love that shit, Whiskey decided to explore our suite for a while. Why he did this, I have no idea. But I didn’t want to move, especially considering that I was already cozy and curled up on the couch. I wasn’t going to move!

“Shit!” Whiskey exclaimed. “Sugar, did you know we have a hot tub in this joint?”

I looked up suddenly, careful not to spill my hot chocolate all over me. “Do we really?”

“Fuck yeah, we do!” he responded excitedly. 

Being extremely cautious to not spill my drink, I shuffled my way over to the sliding doors in the kitchen, where it led to a wooden back deck. And right there I saw it—the hot tub! Goddamnit, Whiskey. You were right.

“Fuck yeah, baby! Let’s go!” I exclaimed. 

That’s when I chugged my drink down, setting the empty cup on the counter and hurrying up toward upstairs. “Hold on a sec. I’ll be right back.”

“Wait a minute. Where you going?” Whiskey asked.

I glanced back at him, grinning mischievously as if I’m up to something. “I’m gonna dive in that mothafucker, so I’m getting my bikini.”

“The black one?” he asked hopefully.

I nodded. “Yep.” That’s when I continued my way upstairs to put it on. “And no! I don’t need any help this time.”

I could hear Whiskey groaning in disappointment. “Damn it!” he exclaimed.

Not too long after, I came back downstairs to try and jump into the hot tub. Before I could, however, I came into the kitchen to meet up with Whiskey again. As soon as I emerged in that black bikini, his jaw dropped so much that I thought he’d have to pick it up off the floor. He was paralyzed in place, probably because of shock. The shock of seeing me in such a revealing outfit. 

“Hot damn!” he exclaimed.

“I’m gonna take a guess and say you like it,” I said. 

His right eyebrow hooked upward. “Like it? I love it! One, black is a really good color for you. And two, it makes you look so hot!”

I smiled after getting that compliment. I don’t believe I’ve smiled like that in a long, long time. “Really?”

“Duh, sugar! I’m so lucky to have such an amazing, hot girlfriend like you,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else.”

“Aww,” I said, hugging him tightly. 

We only hugged for a brief amount of time before peeling ourselves off each other. I didn’t want to—I wanted to be in his strong, muscular arms forever—but I had to. “Now, please get out of my way. I got a hot tub callin’ my name,” I remarked.

I turned to go dip into the hot tub slowly, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw Whiskey leaning in the doorway. He had his hand in his back pocket, as if he had something in there. It didn’t matter to me because I thought he was feeling for his phone. I didn’t think much of it because I had other things on my mind other than the reason why Whiskey has his hand in his back pocket. That’s inconsequential to me. 

“How’s the water, sugar?” he asked from afar. 

I exhaled. “The water’s perfectly fine, Whiskey. Wanna come in and join?”

He shook his head side-to-side. “Thanks but no thanks, sweetheart. I’m not a—hot tub kinda guy.”

“Please,” I begged, drawing it out for a long time. “Do it for me. Pretty please.”

It took him a while to think about it, but Whiskey finally relented. How did I know that he gave in? Because he chuckled so lightly that I could barely hear the “damn you, Veronica” under his breath.

“Fine,” he said. “Give me a couple minutes to change, and I’ll be right out.”

I had to wait for what seemed like forever before Whiskey emerged once again, but this time, he was only wearing black swim trunks. As soon as I saw him, I was immediately dumbfounded, evidenced by my jaw dropping suddenly out of shock. In all the couple years I’ve known Whiskey, I never once believed he could wear such a thing. 

Maybe it was because I never really dreamt of it. I had bigger things on my mind other than imagining Whiskey in just swim trunks. 

“Damn!” I exclaimed. 

He chuckled. “And I’m gonna take a guess and say you like what you see.”

“You’re stupid for thinking that I like what I see,” I added. “I love it, Whiskey! I absolutely love what I see.”

Whiskey ran his tongue along the inside of his mouth, trying so hard to hold back a very loud chuckle. He already knows that I’m unhinged as hell, and hearing me say that definitely didn’t convince him that I’m sane. 

“You’re damn lucky that you’re good-lookin’ and damn smart,” he said. 

I shrugged. “What can I say?” I remarked. “I’m good at getting people to tolerate my crazy ass.”

“Sugar, I can tolerate a lot of shit. Dealing with your crazy ass is nothin’ to me,” he said. “If I can be with it for the rest of my life, then I certainly wouldn’t complain one bit.”

I bit my bottom lip decently hard to keep myself from smiling such a huge, goofy grin. But hearing Whiskey’s comment sparked a new pair of set thoughts in my mind, and they were extremely conflicting. 

Goddamnit, Whiskey, I first thought. What the hell did I do to deserve you?

See? So innocent, right? I innocently don’t know what I truly did to deserve having Whiskey as a boyfriend. Before I met him, all I did was go through the motions of life, which became significantly harder after poor Devin’s sudden death. Meanwhile, Whiskey was probably living his best life, fighting international threats and traveling all over God’s green Earth. 

But my second thought was considered more of suspicious pondering than anything. All the possibilities of what Whiskey could be up to ran through my head. 

What’s going on? What does Whiskey have up his sleeve? What’s he hiding? Why is he acting like he is hiding something?

Maybe I’m simply losing my mind. I’ve been doing that since this gruesome war with Balor started. Sure, he’s gotten into my head and made me afraid of him, but I’m not gonna let that show. That’ll only make him more powerful and have him gain more of an advantage over us. I have to stay strong in order to eventually win this war. If I don’t, then Whiskey, myself, and the rest of the world are fucked.

Completely downright fucked.

So Whiskey relented and ended up joining me in the hot tub, slowly dipping in as he tested the temperature of the water. As he might’ve already figured out, it was hot. Decently hot. Mind you, I’m considerably tolerant of scalding hot water, since I typically take hot showers every couple days, so I’m comfortable with burning hot water. I don’t know about Whiskey, however. He may have interacted with it long before he met me, but he may not prefer it like I do. 

And that’s fine. 

“It’s a little hot, don’t you think, sugar?” he said as he finally got into the hot tub, the water submerging his body all the way up to his upper torso. 

“Ah,” I commented. “It’s fine.”

His eyes widened. “Fine? Sugar, this is blistering hot!” He reached over to grab my hand and examine it. “Are you sure that you ain’t burning up?”

I smirked. “Whiskey, I’m fine. I’m used to hot water. This—this is nothing.”

I guess Whiskey was satisfied with that because he didn’t give me any more fight. “If you say so, sugar,” he said. 

For a while, we decompressed in the hot tub, allowing our tense muscles to relax. It’s something we haven’t done in a long, long time. Ever since we started the war against Balor, we’ve been running around like headless chickens, and we’ve never had the time to truly relax. Sure, this war has always been in the back of our minds, but right now—right now is a rare occurrence. A rare occurrence where we could finally relax and temporarily forget about the stress we’re under. 

“Whiskey, I gotta ask you somethin’ serious,” I spoke up. 

His head slowly turned to me, while his eyes softened with concern. “Yeah. What’s goin’ on?”

I sighed. “Do you ever get tired of me? Do you ever get tired of seeing my face?”

“Why in the hell would you ask me that?” he asked incredulously.

“I mean, we’ve been attached at the hip since—since we started going on the run from Balor,” I added, “and I just think that you get bored of seeing my face every single day.”

He briefly shook his head before setting his sights on me again. “But why, sugar?” he asked. “Why would you ask me that sorta question?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s always been in the back of my mind, ya know? I thought about our relationship and wondered about different scenarios if they played out differently than they did now. What if you get bored of my face? What if you leave me?”

He reached over and placed his hand on the side of my face, feeling the strong jawline that I inherited from, most likely, my father. His eyes softened and sincere, Whiskey didn’t even flinch when he gazed into my eyes and deep into my soul. 

“I am never going to get tired of that face,” he stated firmly. “This face—it brings me comfort. It helps me a great deal to forget about all the darkness and pain I struggle against. And I thank you for that. I love you so goddamn much, Veronica, and if I had the chance to spend the rest of my life with you, I would.”

“Oh, really?” I asked genuinely. 

He smirked mischievously as he grasped the back of my neck tightly, pulling me forcefully and aggressively into him for a passionate, vigorous kiss. One of his hands entangled itself into my hair, grasping it tightly and pulling on it. His other hand, meanwhile, was gently on my waist, running up and down my side and back. 

I was left breathless as a moan escaped my breath and landed on his lips. It wasn’t the first time where such a thing happened with me and Whiskey, but it definitely caught me off-guard. It always does. 

This encounter between Whiskey and I lasted a decent while. We only broke apart once the air in our lungs was completely non-existent. 

“Yes, really,” Whiskey whispered in a low tone. 

And from that moment on, I knew that Whiskey was cooking up something. Maybe a mastermind plan that I had no idea about. But the big question is: When does he plan to enact this plan? Does he plan on carrying it out now or later? 

Deep down inside, I hoped that I’d spend the rest of my life with this man. He’s the picture-perfect gentleman that God sent my way. He’s everything I wanted and more in a man, and I thank God everyday that Whiskey came into my life in the way that he did…

…and I hope that Whiskey—the darling man that I perfectly imagined—stays in my life as long as I live.

[asoulofatlantis]

She is such a whiney dramaqueen. He literally jumped into his death to save her and then freed her from her prison knowing the possible risks and yet she stands here whining that Squall would kill her, like there is ANY reason to believe he would, even IF she would become controlled again. This is just the so called "princess" whining for attention yet again.

I get that this huge picture of Winhill is supposed to show what the town meant to Laguna... but... you know... shouldn't he have chose the part of Winhill were he, Rain and Ellone lived, instead of a picture of that part of the town?

^^' Squall... uh... has no respect for anyone if they haven't proved themselve worthy of it, right? I mean, he obviously doesn't know Laguna is his father (and frankly, I am sure he wouldn't care either way...) but this IS the Präsident of Esther and he has done A LOT in his life to save Ellone, the same girl Squall loved like a big sister, so... he could at least try to have a little bit of respect.

At least these days, he is aware of that. He should have been aware of that back then already... but... spoiled milk and stuff.

The part inside me that has been heartbroken thanks to a certain digimon ship is not happy about those words... but... thats a trauma for another day. Lets go and save the world first.

You mean aside from the prominent cheekbone, right? XD Jokes aside... no one told the boy about his parents, how can you talk so casually about him looking like his mother?

Your friends just spoiled the surprise... but... you know... Squall is totally indifferent to it, as per usual, so... whatever XD

This isn't even a stupid "damsell in distress" anymore, this is just pure utterly ridicioulus plotconvinience at this point. Rinoa, Irvin and Selphie can fight, Laguna, Kiros and Ward who are supposed to be there too as well and yet, your are going to tell me it was a thing done in mere seconds for Seifer to get his hands on Rinoa? PLEASE! (I know that, if you have her in your team he holds her at gunpoint to stop you from intervening, but while it makes more sense that this happened here, when everyone was distracted, how likely that no one outside was fast enough to notice Seifer and be on the defence?

Now we have finally reached the fourth and thus last CD of the game. This means its almost over.

I hope I can finish this as quickly as possible. I am so over this game at this point.

I only unsealed Items and Ressurcetion. No saving, no nothing else. So... wish me luck! XD

Thanks to an itenm called "Hero" that I had 99 of thanks to the fact that this part of We-Mod is still working, I made my character invincable and won the battle. Wohoo!

Now... I watch the ending and then I watch it again on YouTube so I can make screenshots because the whole thing is on auto-text now and I don't want to stress myself.

Squall ending up at Edeas house in the past was only to get some lats second information in. Like how Edea got the idea with the garden and how she ended up with Ultimacias powers. But it really felt unnecessary.

ALSO Squall ended the scene with saying he is not alone, as small Squall was feeling very alone and as we know, that was something that kept stuck with him for a very long time... BUT then he ended up beeing lost, only beeing fund by Rinoa after some horrible nightmare that almost killed him. The message behind that last minute panic drama is a bit questionable. I get the connection to her nightmare and I absolutly did cry and panic back then as a player because I thought Squall might be dead... but for a Squall that was always scared of beeing alon and now FINALLY understood that he was not, it should have been so that he immedeatly found his way back to not just loveinterest Rinoa but also his friends welcoming him with open arms.

I guess you could say overall the biggest issue of this game was that they wanted to push a really bad ship onto you know matter the cost. And it ended up ruining the game.

Would you look at that? Seifer is actually free and happy. After everything he has done. Did I accidentally along the way trade Final Fantasy for a Trails game without noticing? XD Jokes aside. I guess we could forgive him by just kicking him out from the garden, given how he was manipulated by Ultimacia the whole time too... I mean we did forgive Edea. So... yeah... whatever.

I loved that scene. It made me tear up and all... but it is such a freaking "HOW DARE YOU?!" - Moment, because they play freaking "Eyes on me" in the background. The Song Julia wrote for her and Laguna. This is... so damn freaking wrong!

ALSO... Pothole. Rain was burried as Rain Loire, because she got married to Laguna before he left. HOWEVER Squall is called Lionheart, which is Rains Maidenname. Not just easily confusing any player who hasn't got the message yet, but also making you wonder WHY they would do that other than plotconvinience. The only reason to not give Squall Lagunas last name, was to make it easier to hide who his father is, but in game, no one would have had the need to do that. Why should they? So, once again, it makes no sense at all top burry Rain as Rain Lore, but give Squall into the orphanage as Squall Lionheart. Especially since Ellone was with him the whole time. Why would she not disagree with that?

We also never see if Laguna and Squall managed to... you know... talk about things. It would have been nice (to would have spoiled that Squall is definitly alive) if Squall would have visited his mother grave with Ellone and Laguna. It would give this plotpart some closure as well.

Also... who comes to some party with a camera that is running out of akku in less then 30 minutes? It was nice tho to end this with at least some sort of closure for the other characters, even tho they deserved more than what they've got. A LOT more.

Look! I am usually all in for a nice little kiss-scene but with this ship... it doesn't feel any good at all. Because you just know, if this would be realistic... it wouldn't last. But I guess, if you play it for the first time, it is a nice moment, despite the ship beeing unshippable bullshit from beginning to the end. I guess all you wanted back then, playing the game for the first time, was that Squall was alive and happy. And I guess we got at least that.

SO.

The game is finally over.

I give it... honestly I think about 5 out of 10 points, but I guess I am a bit too harsh on such an old game. So give it 6 out of 10 points. Tho that is almost too nice.

[itsevilnessz]

December 18th, 2022

Hey Rizzo,

I hope your first day at home was delightful. I haven’t slept much last night, after I woke up to check on you. After some time rolling in bed I finally fell asleep while imagining you on my side. 

The morning flew by, I woke up later than expected and rushed to get breakfast somewhere. Damn, that chocolate croissant at Peet’s was horrible, never ever again. I won’t comment on the cappuccino, otherwise it would be veery sad. I then met a friend, she gave me a Panettone (an Italian cake we usually gift for Christmas) made with chocolate and pear, great combo. Finally I rushed home, packed everything, watched a last time the bed trying to feel you in my arms again, and then left, closing the chapter of this semester. 

I honestly wish I could write you a letter but I am scared someone will open it for you, so I relied on a more modern kind of letter. 

Right now, I am driving in the Bronx. Manhattan is on my side, with its iconic skyline with a little line of orange left in the sky and the night rising. You know, when I was thirteen, I was the president of the Art Lab in middle school. I’ve always loved drawing, painting, and crafting objects, so the teacher was happy to see me there often. Once, she asked me to work on a big skyline in the sunset. As a little kid, full of dreams in his pockets, I started defining the background. First, a red strip, then an orange one, and lastly, yellow. With a thick brush, I melted those colors together in their separating lines, creating all the nuances of a warm sunset. On top of it, little by little the skyline of New York emerged, With strict lines and a deep black. I would’ve never imagined that one day I would be seeing that with my own eyes. Little by little, I recognized that dreams can become reality if you work hard enough. Don’t get me wrong, my dream was not New York per se, but the feeling of freedom it would’ve brought with it: finally me, out in the world, fiery and decisive, master of my own future. 

However, something was missing. But after I met you that lonely feeling suddenly disappeared. You know how we said that the time is senseless looking at the stars? Well you are like my star. I can look at you and be with you while I lose perception of time, never too much or too little, just something inexistent in the perpetual shimmering of your light in my eyes. Am I too cheesy? I don’t know, I don’t want to be too much, sorry. Just wanted to let you know that you set off a dream in me now. And experience taught me that dreams may come true. 

Sending lots of hugs, hoping one day I’ll visit you and looking forward for your reply. I already imagine me praying whatever entity to let us leave while you drive us to the beach at the sunset, with a bottle of white wine and some overpriced pizza charged on your mom’s credit card.

With all of me, sincerely, -