#but i read them and its very kind you tried to lift my mood and stuff. love u all

[enden-k]

turns tarubday doodle into a fluffy zc piece

[pffbts]

↬genre: romance; angst; slice of life; minimal smut.

↬characters: jeon wonwoo x reader | mentions: mingyu, joshua & jeonghan.

↬w.c: 9.8K (pls throw me off a cliff)

↬author`s note: i know i still have some of the boys left but hands down this is literally my favourite one from the series. it`s also the longest one out of the series because i almost fell in love with wonwoo while writing this (not me lying by saying almost). he`s not my bias but i like him a lot personality-wise. we also have a lot of similar traits so that might be it. okay okay time to stop rambling & now wish you a very happy reading!

↬synopsis: there are 13 boys who lives in your town where each of them have each of their own colours. some you know in person & some from afar so one day you sat down deciding to describe each of their colours absorbing all of their goodness and all of their flaws. you wondered what if someone in some other town ever thought of questioning when they looked at these boys, that―what if we lived in the same town?

☍ seungcheol | jeonghan | joshua | junhui | soonyoung | wonwoo | jihoon | seokmin | mingyu | minghao | seungkwan | vernon | chan

[05:04 PM] [she told him, the sun has kissed you enough, now it`s my turn]

―that day as you waited for wonwoo`s arrival, your eyes lingered longer than you expected at the parallelogram-shaped sunlight that had passed through the window and had fallen upon the mahogany floorboard.

inside the library, in that place that you were yet not so familiar with although left you a bit restless from inside, the lack of blinking pricked your eyes. somehow the fallen sunrays had a hypnotizing effect on you just like a person you know. might be just a mystery of its own, you assumed.

“_______?” out of nowhere, you heard a small deep voice utter your name that simultaneously snapped you out of your daze.

lifting your head up at the familiar sound, you found wonwoo peeking, those feline-like eyes softly set on you, from the huge shelf stacked with books published and breathing longer than both of yours existence.

but before your eyes could adjust their focus on the elephant in the room, your mood instantly shifted to a different spectrum as you found yourself in your expected person`s presence. it was as if with his arrival wonwoo brought in with himself a glass of some magical potion whose key ingredients were happiness, comfort and a sense of protection for you to drink and relief yourself from your internal restlessness.

“oh?” your own voice came out in a much higher octave than you yourself expected as you raised your brows on reflex when you finally discovered what you were supposed to discover much before than this, “you really did it!?”

wonwoo, whose tall figure was previously almost hidden behind the much taller shelf came out with a coy smile hanging from the corner of his lips and without meeting your eyes, at your surprised question, he ducked his head down to scratch the behind of his head and then drown in a river of shyness.

“i don`t know what came upon me last night…” you heard him trailing off, “bought the dye from the store while coming back from your place….and just got done with the business by the time it was two in the morning,”

“so you did it on a whim? just because i suggested it?” even if someone was not looking at you, they could still be a hundred percent sure that you were beaming from cheek to cheek. it was visibly evident in your voice.

“i guess that`s one way to put it. you handed the suggestion and i took it.” your friend lifted his eyes and with all his teeth and nose scrunch went, “heh.”

when wonwoo did his ‘heh’ while finally meeting your eyes, something instantly melted inside your chest. although you had a thousand years old shock reflected on your face, you gave him an impressed smile.

“you look,” raising your hands mid-air accompanied by slow blinks of your eyes, you tried to convey your words with all kind of gestures, “absolutely…stunning.”

“ehhh, you think so?”

“of course! what else can i even think of otherwise?” you whisper-yelled at him, attempting to convince him how significantly wondrous he looked in that pale yet brightly white-dyed hair colour.

“thank you, thank you. you`re too kind to me, _______,”

you pfft-ed at him, stopping yourself from getting yourself ahead with anymore compliments thrown at him lest they make wonwoo more flustered than he already was but you were absolutely sure if this interaction had had happened outside this library where silence forever finds its home, you would`ve definitely squealed at the sudden outlook change of your college buddy.

“by the way, what were you looking at on the floor? was it a bug?” wonwoo asked as he turned his head around for a quick glance on the sunlit floorboard.

“wait, so you didn`t greet me right away?” brows furrowed in suspicion, you asked away.

“no, i was watching you through the top gap between the books and the shelf,” he shook his head mischievously, his chin held high.

rolling your eyes, you denied that actually it was not a bug rather you were just captivated by the perfectly shaped sunray. also, what`s with wonwoo and his hobby to watch you when you`re not looking at him and most often when you`re in a trace? he`s been like this since you both have been closely acquainted and you still had no idea why he does it. did he do this just to tease you? or did he know more about things that you were then yet to figure out?

nevertheless as the shyness shredded one layer after another, wonwoo slowly walked up to you and took the textbook you issued last week that you held against your chest. he was supposed to borrow it for the coming week so you were initially there to pass it to him.

“so um, do you want to stay back?” he then offered quite hesitantly.

now at such a close proximity, you were finally able to be more taken by how handsome your friend looked in this new hair colour that completely almost perfectly complemented with his thin-rimmed round silver glasses. therefore, it took your head a bit more time to render the question asked by him.

“huh?” you asked surprised half at his offer and half at his handsome face from your height.

“are you okay? are you still on earth, _____?” wonwoo chuckled while asking as he leaned in to inspect if there`s still any trace of daze inside your eyes.

you instantly shut them not meeting with his own right away. shaking your head, you dismissed anymore thoughts of external admiration for the person in front of you and waved your now empty hands void of the previously held book expressing that you were indeed fine although from inside you knew it was half a lie.

“good, you almost had me a bit concerned there.”

“sorry, you`re a bit distracting right now,” with a nervous laugh, you confessed.

wonwoo, who had already straightened his back didn`t say anything in reply instead he smiled and pointed at the farthest corner of the library behind you, right next to the last window of that direction.

“sit with me there?” he requested with a tilt of his head.

you nod back at him enthusiastically with a hum.

when wonwoo started walking past you and you began to tail behind him with half a meter of distance, you saw the sun following him from behind too and it made you almost close the distance and place the tip of your fingers upon his neck to feel the heat of the sun from his skin.

you witnessed the rays that mingled with the freshly dyed white hair on his head, almost kissing the nape of his neck all the while making you jealous for some unclear reason and illuminating him from the back. the dark blue jeans jacket that hugged his wide back made it almost impossible for you to look past your vision and yet even with that uncertainty lingering around you, you still walked matching his white sneakers clad steps with your black mary jane flats knowing you`re safe and sound with this person.

maybe this was exactly what wonwoo was talking about on orientation day.

almost one year and seven months ago, at the start of your first semester, specifically on the day of your orientation, you found yourself in a dilemma.

not surprised and yet not exactly disappointed at how your lack of sense of direction hadn`t improved since your school days, you stood there in the wrong hallway holding your class schedule in your right hand while the other hand had the tightest grip on the strap of your bag as the reflection of your spiking anxiety.

at the same time, your eyes followed every single student in the hallway as if somehow, according to something inside you, these people had everything figured out in this world and you were, at the end of the day, the only odd ball standing away from the crowd yet again at the sidelines.

“um, hello?”

surprised, with a sharp intake of breath that probably startled the owner of the heavy deep voice too, you turned to your left to find a boy in round silver glass who was almost a head taller than you. he was leaning over with a very evident concern in his feline-like eyes.

wow, he looks just like a cat, even in such distress that you`ve found yourself in, that was literally the first thing that came to your mind when you met with the unnamed boy`s eyes.

“you`re not lost, are you?” he asked you quite slowly as if he was speaking to a child.

he had his eyes so strongly set on you that for some reason you couldn`t steer clear of his face. it was as if he was pulling you in through an abstract formula.

“wow, your voice…”

of course, it was just you thinking out loud and when you saw his brows perk up at your breathless voice, heat gathered across your cheek and you tore your eyes away from his face.

“ah! don`t worry i get that all the time,”

the boy tried to pacify the situation quickly knowing a bit well that you were probably embarrassed to face him after stupidly confessing your honest innermost thoughts.

“sorry,” a little voice came out of your lips, “this is embarrassing but yeah, i think i`m very pathetically lost,” your voice almost sounded like a cry of help from a distance and yet there was not anything that could prepare you for the reaction from the boy you still had no idea why was even yet talking to you?

he probably thought you were an idiot. the best thing he could do was simply ditch you right then.

“wah that`s so cool, no, i would say very comforting,”

now, wait a minute, narrowing your eyes you tilt your head up to stare at him through your lashes, “excuse me-”

“because that makes two of us,”

“huh?!” shocked, you exclaimed as if a bulb just lit up above your head.

the boy`s eyes flickered as he took a sharp head turn at your direction, looking down.

the thought processed so fast inside your head that the sheer joy which burst through you made the boy to stumble back a bit, “are you saying that you`re lost too? because if that`s the truth then my theory is right,” you swept one look at the paper you held in your hand and then up at him before continuing in a voice that had all the confidence in the world, “this directions doesn`t make no damn sense.”

it was as if, him, confessing the truth that he too was lost turned the wheels of time and you somehow travelled back to the time before he had greeted you from behind. it was as if some anonymous creature just kicked the ball of thought of you despising him and it flew across the other side of the hallway.

“i second that,” the boy nods, closing his eyes for half a second, confirming your belief.

you cannot believe that there was any way you were about to declare to yourself that you hated this guy if you knew this kind of plot twist was about to unfold.

“you know, i almost thought you were making fun of me,” you confessed assuming that the boy would probably be in another department so being a tad bit friendly, even for a time being that`s temporary, didn`t seem harmless.

“even if you were lost and i wasn`t, that still wouldn`t be fair of me. everyone has something that they`re not good at, you know?”

“thanks but i always feel like i`m a step behind from everyone at literally everything,” to deflect the fact that you suddenly said something way too dark, you gave him a small smile as you looked back down at the class schedule and the direction that`s drawn by the woman at the office, trying to figure out a solution.

“i don`t think it`s called being a step behind though? it`s called going at your pace. and even if you`re walking behind someone, isn`t it almost like walking behind someone whom you trust with your everything? have you ever had someone behind whom you can walk and not feel scared of where they`re taking you to?”

you didn`t expect him to straight out place a very serious conversation in-between you two but with his countless questions, you were bound to answer at least one of them or else you realized you wouldn`t be able to escape this situation. damn, all for attempting at being a little social.

“of course, i`ve people like that. although i can`t say i trust them with my everything…but i do have people with whom i feel comfortable.”

“then think of your life like that too. think of all these human beings just like us. think of them as someone you know from your town with whom you can trust lending your pencil and them not losing it.”

“is that even possible? i mean most of them these days are just backstabbers in disguise of a good person. we can never know what the person in front of you is thinking.”

“well, first you`ve to stop thinking that everyone is ahead of you. it`s the thought that puts your mind at such negative pedestal. i`m sure if i had not talked with you…you would`ve thought i`ve everything figured out in life, right? not knowing that i`m lost just like you? that i have flaws just like you?”

it was as if this boy was reading your mind from somewhere afar when you thought you were only standing alone, not knowing this boy and looking at everyone in this hallway with anxiety bubbling up inside you.

“now…i can`t argue with that,” you told him, “and, by the way, i`m ______. i feel like at this rate we`ll not get to exchange our names and just debate along.” you let him know, almost smiling.

“hi ______,” he greeted you with a small bow of his head, “i`m wonwoo.”

“you know, you sound like a nice person and….you`ve an unique name plus you speak so well.” and, on top of everything, i can`t believe i`m already jealous of you, you wished you could add that out loud but you didn`t.

“is that a compliment?” it was like he was teasing you. the feel was there at the edge of his voice.

“absolutely yes. i love the sound of your name.”

“wow, i never heard of someone say that.”

“congratulations because now you know.” you declared.

wonwoo, whose name now you finally know and love, nodded his head while you got back to inspecting the directions on the page you were holding.

“so…which department?”

not even five seconds passed when suddenly, he asked you, not wanting to end this conversation. you still have no idea why did he even conversed with you that long. what was so special about finding another person lost just like you? plus you were sure he didn`t think much of your intelligence.

“me? literature.” you said without looking at him.

seconds ticked by and when you didn`t get any answer, you looked up from the class schedule in your hand to wonwoo who stared at you with his lower jaw hung low, disbelief reflected all over his face.

“no way, wonwoo, you`re kidding with me, right?” it didn`t take you a second to understand.

wonwoo was actually from the same department. it was so plainly written on his face that you let out a shaky huff.

next thing you knew, he had taken out his own class schedule from his jeans pocket and both of you had extended each of your arms as you huddled next to one another, holding the schedules side by side and to both of your much greater dismay found all the classes to be a perfect match.

wonwoo had said right away that this must`ve been destiny and you had laughed thinking life must not be real because there was no way right on the first day of college you got to make a friend who was as lost as you in figuring out the orientation room and unexpectedly had the same class schedules for the next one year.

“you know what would be crazier?” chin resting on your palm, you had told him after two weeks of being seatmates at all the classes, “imagine if even for the rest of our semesters we get to be classmates at every single classes. don`t you think that would be wild?”

wonwoo, who was highlighting some lines from his textbook sniffled out a giggle and said without looking up that it`s bound to happen either way because now you both know each other plus sticking together would be much better than getting lost yet again in the hallways while figuring out his and your classes.

you thought you couldn`t agree more than this because it was also then that you had learnt that he was from the same town as you.

but because wonwoo had gone to a different high school, he had never crossed any paths with you in a town that`s so familiar to you two. a place where you both have people whom you`ve known since the beginning of your times and yet it feels so indifferent when you two are next to each other.

because here in this new city filled with strangers was where wonwoo and you found each other through such a situation that hits a little too close to home and can be laughed about in the future. as if both of you were written just like this – fate coming from behind and pulling the string between both of you from the middle to make both ends meet in a place where you will need each other the most.

maybe wonwoo was right that day. maybe this was always how things were supposed to work out between both of you.

presently, against the backdrop of the passing college days and the ordinalities of life, wonwoo has gradually settled against you, like something equivalent to the monsoon air that gingerly touches your bare back during hot summer days, like dew over grasses in the mornings, like cool water that you can feel passing down your throat, through your chest and then to somewhere unknown.

the little mundane things, the things that we overlook most often seemed to become one brick after another that shaped the room in which both of you settled in.

the exchange of written conversations at the top right and left corner of his and your notebooks during classes (depending on who sits on which side that day). the unawareness of overtime spent at each other`s studio apartments. him, arriving at your bedside with new notes from college as you lay in bed under the covers suffering from chronic period cramps and mumbling a small ‘thank you’ while he takes the half-empty water bottle on the bedside rack to refill it from your kitchen, assuring you that it`s nothing.

him, peeling a tangerine for you while you run through your summarized notes the afternoon before exams. you, fervently texting him at midnight, making sure he`s not staying up too late while binge reading any novel that you`ve found him to be secretly consumed in even during classes.

“do you want me to make you some tea?” you ask him on every other evenings because it`s the only thing you`re decent at making, the only good thing that you can make with your own two hands for him while he`s standing in your little kitchen in a white sleeveless tee, the baby blue shirt that he was wearing over it during college hours, now resting on your study chair along with his glasses upon your desk. he tells you, “yes, i would love to,” and while the water boils, he recites you the poem he wrote previous night before falling to sleep while his perfectly combed hair seems to unravel on its own.

“pull me towards the farthest corner of this house and tell me all about the parts of you that`s dead from within. tell me things like as if they`re one god`s whisper and i`ll hold them all upon my palm like dried up lilies,” you heard him recite once from one of his own pieces and wished for that god he talks about in the poem to allow you to travel inside that mind of his.

on the other hand, there`s also you and him, laughing as your and his hands find each other for the entanglement of security, from miss-stepping because after coming out of that air conditioned café that one night, both of your glasses have fogged up and now you both can`t see the curb properly.

with passing days, you had slowly opened up a lot to him, at your pace, just like he asked you to be. it was something that came out like a broken dam spilling in slow motion. a gentle push from behind and everything which was inside you came out spilling one after another, gently and steadily.

wonwoo, who is calm and understanding; wonwoo, who always has words at the tip of his tongue like a poet who has lived through centuries inside his body, made sure to take his time with you, to soften up the edges of this distance between you and him and your jumbled up words when you`re not sure if they truly reflect what you truly feel.

he sees your shortcomings like as if his eyes are the ones that`s imperfect. he doesn`t judge. he doesn`t object. his hums feel like gentle kisses on your shoulders when he`s next to you, standing or sitting, watching your lips open one room`s door after another of your soul allowing him to inch forward and peek into them one at a time, hoping and waiting patiently by the doors for your permission to at least live inside one of them.

at the same time, there are things that wonwoo doesn`t truly understand about you and he calls them your own little mysteries but he accepts the weight that you carry on your shoulders. he holds you against himself and lets you carry the load with half the strength unlike before, like carrying together a heavy bag of grocery – you holding one strap and him, the other one.

you told him about your first love which was painfully unrequited. you told him about your classmates with whom you had made promises to stay in touch but has failed miserably and you know, partially, it`s your fault. wonwoo in return told you to emphasize on the word ‘partially’ because relationships that are truly meant to be, has to always meet half-way. it`s like two curve lines meeting to form a perfect circle. one single line can never make a perfect circle. somehow it will always form not even a perfect oval.

you told him when you had fallen down the stairs and almost broke your nose at 4th grade. he didn`t laugh instead he asked you if it troubles you anymore. you told him no but you`re still cautious when going upstairs at any place. you told him how you don`t like seafood but has to eat it anyway because your mother loves it and doesn`t understand why you don`t. you told him how you wish you knew what daughters with fathers who loves them back feels like and if not, can they ever forgive their fathers for leaving them? because what else is left of you if you forgive them? will the rage go or will the permanent emptiness fade like a crumbled up water bottle getting filled up out of nowhere?

you told him you don`t know if there`s something wrong with you when you feel like you can`t trust anyone or make long lasting friendships. you told him even though you want to love and be loved, you don`t know where to start.

and, wonwoo listens to each of your words, like a dimwit already in love with you. he plays with your rings and traces the lines upon your palms when you have fallen asleep while watching a movie next to him in his dimly lit living room. he allows you to unlink the cuff buttons of his flannels and to roll the sleeves back during winter mornings so as to witness the sun falling upon his skin, while you two are standing inside the train next to the sliding door that takes you both to college.

one same morning like this, wonwoo had an offer to make.

it was one month after the incident in the library when he had revealed his new hair colour. you could see the white fading whenever you stared too long at him. wonwoo said that because it`s almost time for the christmas holidays so he was thinking if both of you could drive back home together considering he had just gotten an international driving license, you know, just out of celebration.

“great. so this means you`ll now get to show off to me that not only are you better in studies than me but also impeccable at driving?” you told him to which wonwoo had let out a big laugh. it`s always a little joke in-between you two – your paranoia of driving on your own which resulted in you not even attempting to take part in any driving lesson, forget even thinking of earning a driving license.

“that…is what you think,” with a shake of his head, he pointed his forefinger at you, “don`t pull me into such thoughts of yours, i don`t want to live inside your head like that.”

“whatever,” your rolled your eyes at his words.

“so?”

“so what?” you rebuked back.

“are you up for it?”

“i don`t know…i need to think,” 

you looked at him for long, into his eyes that was already set on yours. narrowing them, you tried to find something behind that face of his. you still can`t figure how can someone look so much like a cat. but you can`t tell him that now, not in this moment because-

“don’t tell me you`re thinking of me looking like a cat again, ______. i know that eyes way too much at this point,” wonwoo said, almost in a deadpan tone.

goddamn it, jeon wonwoo.

“hey! you can`t just read my mind like that!” with wide eyes, you told him off in embarrassment.

wonwoo chuckled teasingly and at the same time waited ardently for your answer to his offer.

you told him you`ll think about it at the door of your first class and then answer him in the evening, which is exactly what you did. you took his offer up with no hesitance while making ramen for yourself that night and by the time, christmas was three days away, wonwoo was already back to his natural hair colour which was jet black and you`ve never found yourself as enamored by how it complements with his deep set eyes. it`s like you missed seeing him like this.

wonwoo waited for you in front of your studio apartment building with the car that he had borrowed from someone he knows from other department. you asked him if that`s okay to which he said that you didn`t have to worry so much.

“trust me with this, ______,” he said convincingly.

“i just don`t feel good with sitting inside a stranger`s car.”

“not even when i`m the one driving?” wonwoo asked as he fixed the seatbelt on you.

“it`s not about you. of course, i trust you. it`s just…i don`t know. am i being weird again?” you shrugged.

“you`ll be fine, ________, you have me right next to you,”

“don`t you ever get tired of saying all these cheesy stuff?”

wonwoo made a gesture of zipping up his mouth and then contradicted the action in the next second by saying, “also you`re not weird. never to me, at least.” which earned him a very familiar roll of your eyes.

next as wonwoo brought the car to life, you rolled down your window and looked outside, whispering a little temporary goodbye in your mind to the city you both met in.

he dropped you off at your place around seven in the evening and when you told him that you`ll see him again, wonwoo didn`t smile that big instead he told you to play with your old classmates from school rather than boring yourself out with him.

making a displeased face you made sure he understood that you didn`t like what he said. you knew it was never going to happen. you were definitely not going to play with any of your classmates from school. well, maybe, you can catch up with mingyu or something or call joshua if he`s visiting this christmas or not but other than that, there`s really no straight-cut promises there.

“i`ll try,” you told him, “but i can`t promise anything.”

“you`ve to take care of yourself too, _______,”

“i will and you don`t bore me, wonwoo,” you told him as he was turning around to get into the car.

“oh? that makes me feel good,” he replied quite nonchalantly as he nudged his glasses. you knew he was being light-hearted about the sudden heaviness in the air. after all, you two have never been apart this long at least since you`ve met.

there was always a promise of a ‘see you in the morning’ after every ‘goodnight’ in the city that`s not his or yours. but this ‘goodnight’ didn`t have that same ring to it so you didn`t wish him back. you didn`t want this to end.

“wonwoo?” you stepped down the curb in-front of your home, putting your hand on the edges of the window, “do you think we`ll cross each other this time? i mean now we know we live in the same town plus it`s christmas. i`m pretty sure if we both go out respectively, who knows, we might stumble upon each other.”

wonwoo was already inside the car by then when you were speaking but when he heard your question, he leaned onto the passenger seat where you were previously sitting, “the possibility is not zero but i`m not sure,”

you huffed out loud, “why are you being so negative? you know my place at least,”

“not really. and, are you offering a sleepover? at your place?”

“i didn`t say sleepover though. just visiting is enough, you know?”

“what about your mother? won`t she mind?”

at the mention of your mother, you turned around to look at the lit up windows of your place and gulped. closing your eyes, you nodded, “yeah, you`re right,”

“right? so call me,”

“hmmm,” you looked down at your shoes, your lower lip tucked in under your teeth.

“call me, ______,”

“yes. yes, i will,”

“anytime,” the more he spoke, the more his voice softened.

“wonwoo.” this time you lifted your head up and closed your eyes, not looking at him, not looking at anywhere, not even the sky.

“whenever you need me,”

“wonwoo.”  you squeezed your eyes.

“yes?”

“just go,” you said breathlessly.

“if you say so…..then, i`ll pick you up after new year’s, yeah?”

you hummed, nodding your head, your eyes still perfectly squeezed shut.

“are you not even going to say goodnight?”

you shook your head in silence.

“not even look at me?”

“absolutely not.”

you heard him let out a scoff and turn up the engine.

“i`ll see you then,” you heard him say one last time, “goodnight, _____.”

how can he be so okay with this? why does it seem like he will not miss you? it was all that you could think of.

few seconds later, when you heard the sound of his car was a bit far away, you opened your eyes and looked on your right. you saw the backlights of his car that reflected upon the road fading into the distance and when he went out of your sight, a well-known emptiness welcomed you home.

you turned around on your heels and walked up to your entrance door. your mother had cooked a very heavy welcoming dinner for you but you were suddenly not in a mood to eat anything of that sort so you told her, you`ll eat it a bit later. she was a bit put off by your words but when she saw your face and how you looked like someone had knocked out the life out of you, she told you to come out when you would feel hungry enough but warned you not to go to sleep on empty stomach.

you closed the door of your room behind yourself, took your clothes off and went straight for a bath, not knowing what was waiting for you on the day of your return to the city.

yes, you were, of course, terribly mad at wonwoo. you absolutely didn`t expect him to not call or even try to come visit you. he seemed to have ghosted you altogether which was unthinkable to you.

you had called him on the first two nights but neither had he picked them up nor had he replied to you with any reasoning. being fed up, you didn`t even wish him back any ‘happy christmas to you too’ or even a ‘happy new year to you too’ when he texted those two wishes solely. it was your way of giving him a cold shoulder.

so without a single exchange of syllable between you and him for the past more than one week when he was at your doorsteps the morning after new year`s, greeting your mother, introducing himself and telling her how he was there to pick you up, you stood there outside your room`s door, your backpack all ready and packed, chest fuming from inside.

“oh look who`s here.” you said, voice sharp and cold.

wonwoo didn`t react instead with his curled up lips at the corners he stepped inside your house, excusing himself to your mother and went straight for your backpack. you didn`t protest as something told you from inside that the smile that was on his face was simply just a disguise. you`ve after all known him for almost two years at that point.

i`ll tell you everything on the way, he whispered and it sounded like a rumble off his chest as he leaned in against your ear when your mother wasn`t looking.

god, i`ve missed him, you told yourself when he pulled himself away from you and held your eyes for a second before diverting his gaze.

i`ve missed him terribly, you blink slowly as you let out a deep exhale as if you were holding yourself back from breathing when he spoke against your ear.

in the next few hours while wonwoo drove skillfully, he, as promised, told you everything and the anger that you harvested against him for the past one week swished out of the rolled down window next to you and suddenly turned into a puddle of guilt.

apparently, he had fallen terribly ill the morning after he had dropped you off at your place and his health had so much worsened that he was admitted to the hospital for the next two days which meant that he was only discharged on the day of christmas but it was only upon wonwoo`s ardent request. he didn`t want to spend such a special day at the hospital surrounded by the smell of medicines rather he wanted to spend time with his family and if he can, maybe he can surprise you so that you both can go to the local church together to see the decors.

but the doctor had told him very specifically to not go out as the fever might go up if he pushes himself further. so, at the end, he was only sorry for not visiting you and could only wish you over text. although he did think of calling you but he didn`t want to bother you as you might have been busy with your friends and family. he didn`t want to intrude into something he wasn`t a part of. he didn`t want to make you uncomfortable.

you shook your head in denial as you stared straight ahead on the road even though you were not the one driving but wonwoo didn`t notice you so instead, he kept on continuing his story further.

he revealed that it was not until the eve of new year`s that his health had turned around. he confessed that he was feeling quite well but even if he wanted to visit you, he simply yet again didn`t want to invade your space and he figured you might`ve been mad at him for not calling or picking up your phone.

you noticed the tight grip of his hands upon the steering wheel as he spoke. you saw how the knuckles of his already fair hand was much whiter than before and you wanted to reach out to place your hand on them, assuring him that you`ve never thought of him like that ever.

but you didn`t want to disturb him while you two were still on road as it might be dangerous. you wanted him to sit there with his thoughts. you wanted to wait for the arrival of the city that knows all about you two, so that when you and him will only find each other in the room, you can tell him how wrong he was.

as the car drove into the city, wonwoo asked if you wanted him to drop you off at your place to which you shook your head and told him to instead stop by his place. he didn`t question considering it wasn`t anything out of box for you to drop by his place. for the last two years, you guys have spent enough times at each other`s rented place like as if it`s your own four walls. you two even have each other`s spare keys.

when wonwoo unlocked the door and stepped in, he took your and his backpack in both of his arms and took off his shoes at the doorsteps. on the other hand, as you watched him from the doorstep disappearing into his study cum bedroom to place the bags, you kept standing with your back pressed against the closed door collecting your thoughts.

when he came back after finding out that you were nowhere in the kitchen or the living area, he discovered you standing against the door with a solemn expression on your face, the kind of face you make when you`re trying to analysis a poem.

“what happened? not gonna come in?” he asked you.

instead of answering him back, you walked up to wonwoo and placed both of your palm on his shoulders and locked your eyes upon him with a seal.

“whoa,” wonwoo said in a small shaky voice as he cupped your elbows in his own palms. he was a little taken by how serious you looked and teeny tiny bit scared too if he was being completely honest.

“wonwoo, we need to talk.” you narrowed your eyes at him.

“seems like we have to,” he nodded, looking away from you, “is it something to do with college assignments?”

you shook your head slowly.

“it`s about what you said in the car,”

“ohhhhh,” wonwoo`s lips curled up into an ‘o’ and he turned around, taking a small turn into the kitchen with his back facing you. your palms were then gingerly pressing on his shoulder blades as you followed his steps.

“i want you to know that whatever you thought for me when we were back in the town, you were completely wrong about everything,” you started giving shapes to your thoughts as you watched him take two cups, one saucepan out of the dish cabinet and taking the tea bags out of his kitchen closet. although he wasn`t looking at you, he was still nodding thus gesturing you to go on.

you stood at the small kitchen aisle, at the far end of it and laid out your innermost thoughts.

“i`ve never been good with people. i don`t know how to stay afloat with people whom i know but distance has somehow caused a strain in our relationships, but somehow for the first time in a very long time, i want to put some effort in what we have in-between each other,” you said, almost confidently.

wonwoo was standing in front of the oven where the water was starting to heat up. all these while, he hadn`t given you a single glance but when you talked about you and him, he turned around to face you, arms folded on his chest, now listening to you more closely as if something had strung a cord inside him.

“you don`t bore me, wonwoo, you….at least you can never do that,” you could feel it on your face that you were holding a painful expression and you observed his eyes softening, his lips parting at the sight, “since the day i`ve met you, you`ve given me a place where i belong. you`ve given me space, time and made me discover the ability to long for someone. something which i thought i would never have,”

you took small steps ahead, closing the distance between you two by few centimeters, “when you didn`t call me, when you didn`t text me other than wishing, i thought you were ignoring me. i thought you were probably so busy hanging out with your own friends that you completely forgot about me. i was angry. i felt betrayed which…” you laughed, looking down, “sounds quite silly now because at least i should know what kind of a person you are,”

“what kind of a person am i,______?” wonwoo asked as he swiftly turned around to pour the boiled water into the cups with the tea bag already put in. his voice was deep and it almost vibrated from him to you.

“you`re….” you gulped, suddenly scared of your own thoughts and the things that might inflict, “you`re…someone i, i want to be with!” you said the last words so quickly that as soon as the words registered upon wonwoo`s face, you slapped your hand on your mouth with the widening of your eyes.

wonwoo who was stirring the tea previously, had altogether stopped his action and looked at you mirroring your eyes. he placed the saucepan very slowly next to the cups and turned his attention completely on you.

and, you don`t remember what came upon you suddenly. you don`t recall this kind of boldness in you as you moved extremely close to him, minus all the distance and clasped his bicep with the hand that you had covered your own mouth with as if you were holding onto him from falling out, from running away.

“you!” eyes wide, shaking your head, denying every single thought that you thought was passing through wonwoo`s head, that you couldn`t figure through his eyes, “you have all the permission to intrude, wonwoo. instrude as much as you can. if anything, i want to let people know about you, about what you are to me, about what you do to me. i want to explain, wonwoo, i want to explain thousand times to people what you mean to me because i-”

wonwoo eyes flickered as your chest heaved with heavy breaths, he watched your mouth doing all the breathing and he forgot all about the tea as he clasped onto your other arm that was holding tight onto the edge of the kitchen aisle.

although you stumbled into his chest as he held you close against him, your eyes never left his face and the same went for him as wonwoo didn`t steer clear of you once.

“i love you,” and, he finished your sentence.

“what?” you stared up him, bewildered.

“love,” wonwoo closed his eyes as if weighing his choice of word, as if calculating if whatever he`s saying was right or not, before nodding, “yeah, i….i love you,”

“is that why…”

“no, no – i mean, it`s a bit childish but i didn`t say all that because i wanted to,”

“i don`t understand, please tell me,” you shook him with your arms, provoking him, begging him to tell you what he was hiding, “i want to know, i need to know, wonwoo, i have to know what`s going on inside your mind,”

for almost close to ten minutes, both of you stood there, in each other`s arms unaware of how they were protecting you two from falling, unaware how each of them were sharing the strength to face the truth. wonwoo confessed everything to you and you, on the other hand, confessed certain things to yourself.

like how even though you were never and still is not good with physical interaction especially if that exchange is out of love, out of intimacy of the same, you didn`t flinch from being in wonwoo`s arms for that long. you weren`t bothered by how close he was. his breath falling upon your face, his voice sending happy goosebumps on your skin and the warmth of his body encasing you like a warm blanket after a night full of rain felt like home.

and, of course, wonwoo wanted to call you. even though he was sick, he wanted to take that opportunity and be selfish for once and ask you to be next to him, spend the christmas eve at his place or maybe somewhere else but it had to be with him. he wanted you all by himself and nowhere near where he didn`t know you before he actually knew you.

that town knew parts of you that he didn`t and he was jealous that that place had a kind of relationship with you that he probably can never have even if he wanted. he told you if time travelling actually existed, he would do anything to travel back in time and meet you and make sure you remember him.

wonwoo was jealous of the people whom you knew, with whom you shared chapters of your past, with whom you went through all the changes, all your pain as you faced them upfront, even your very first love. he was jealous that he wasn`t there to face them with you and that is why when he told you to be with your friends in the town, he was speaking out of sheer jealousy but he told you not to think for once that he was mad at you and that even if you did spend times with them, he would never be mad because it`s not something you should do just for his sake. he just doesn`t want to change anything about you. he wants to take you in just like the way you were made.

“so, you were jealous of my friends, of the people i knew before you?” you smiled as you asked him when you`ve both calmed down.

wonwoo nodded being all shy and not meeting with your eyes.

to which, you confessed that actually you didn`t meet with anyone, that you had spent most of your time inside your room, watching movies and working on your studies and eating all the food that your mother had cooked out of the christmas and new year`s celebration because you were mad at him.

“is it because i never called?”

“hmmm,” you hummed back in agreement with a visible pout.

“i`m sorry. i should`ve called you. i should`ve called you to visit the church with me,”

“it`s okay. it doesn`t matter now. we`re here now,” you said, as you hugged him, “together, in a place where you don`t have to be jealous of anyone.”

wonwoo groaned in embarrassment as he buried his face at the crook of your neck and you sniffled out a giggle against his own.

you never knew that wonwoo had this side of him so you found yourself to be amused.

“so when did it start?” you asked him from over his shoulders.

wonwoo, whose face was snuggled up against your neck told you that it was around the end of first year in college when he started realizing that he, no matter, how he tried couldn`t see you as just friends. he wanted to put in more efforts so he also tried his hand at poetry and ended up writing a bunch of stuff that he would read to you.

he confessed that in each of those poems that he wrote dedicated to you in silence, he wanted to leave a piece of himself in-between the lines wishing that one day when all of his words are written and done with, he would be completely yours from that day on.

“that`s wonderful, wonwoo….that sounds exactly like something you`d do to impress your lover,” you told him.

wonwoo pulled himself away from your neck and softly pressed his forehead against yours, “what about you?” he whispered.

you smiled against his mouth as you felt his arms wrapping you up against him, closing all the minimum distance that was there before. you looked down, suddenly a bit flustered as you could feel him staring through you, “promise me…you`ll not laugh?” you stared up at him for a second waiting for his reply. wonwoo gave you a microscopic shook of his head and small kiss against the corner of your left eye.

closing your eyes at the sudden kiss, you sniffled a small laugh, “okay okay so…you know i`m bad at cooking right?”

wonwoo nodded, “you mean, we are bad at cooking?”        

“um yeah kind of, but you`re good with poems at least so…when we started hanging out together a lot at each other`s place, i realized that even though i hate cooking and that i don`t find myself motivated enough to even try….the more and more close we became, the more i wanted to make something for you,”

“you wanted to cook me food? to impress me?”

you pulled your head back staring at the ceiling for a while deep in thoughts and on the other hand, wonwoo had a smirk painted upon his face as he looked at you.

“not exactly impress…i would say i wanted to take care of you?”

“that`s why you would make tea for me while i would read you poems?”

“wow,” you widened your eyes, realizing something as your cheeks lifted up in a big smile, “i just realized that we both were trying to indirectly impress each other without even knowing what the other one was doing,”

“god, we`re really dense, aren`t we?” wonwoo declared.

“also, the reason why i opted for tea and not food because after many failed attempts i realized that i don’t want you to die from eating my cooked dish…like, i`m serious, it`s bad. very bad.”

“i know i would`ve eaten it with a smile on my face though,” wonwoo leaned in as he spoke with a tease at the end.

your hand reached his shoulders and then climbed up to wrap your palms against jaw and neck, “oh you don`t know anything…”

wonwoo hummed in denial as he slowly parted your lips with his and breathed against your mouth before pressing them against yours. he took one of his hand and placed it at the back of your head to support you as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss while he heard you reciprocating his previous hum against the smile on his face.

after the mutual confessions from that day, nothing much changed in-between both of you.

wonwoo and you would still have conversations like before but now you`d sit more close to each other. you two still had each other on speed-dials or as emergency contact. he would still deliver you notes when you`d be sick and you`d still warn him not to stay up late and of course, you would still bicker around with him, spend times cramming for exams and convince him to get different kind of haircuts or hair colours which he would sometimes agree on and sometimes give you a questionable look.

“um i don`t think that colour will look good on me…” he would say unsure.

“no no no, don`t you know? handsome people look good in anything and,” you would flick his chin and tell him that he`s the most handsome in the world to which he would proceed to bite onto your finger pretentiously.

“ack! you`re really a cat!” you would retort.

maybe the only additional thing to this package deal of you both is that now you two would end up having multiple make-out sessions at his and your places and mostly, especially in the kitchen.

it`s quite funny and ironical how you both are bad at cooking but somehow would always end up using the kitchen as a space to show each other love in a way that consumes both of you.

the soft kisses at the corridors of college where no one is looking would only stir up something more than enough from inside and you discovered that when you yearn for someone, when you want someone to completely take you, your mind would simply not rest until the deed is done with.

and that`s why, during after college hours when the two of you would settle against either of yours kitchen aisle – him, with his diary of poetry and you, with the warm cups of tea, things would simply not end just there.

the tension would only grow and wonwoo would always end up in-between your legs, tasting the tea against your mouth, smiling and kissing your band-aid clad knee that you bruised while being clumsy on road on a certain day. your toes would gingerly graze against his bare midriff while he does that and you will know you`re alive, he`s kissing your knee, his strong hands holding the back of your knees and you`re alive. the goosebumps are the proof that you exist in this moment with the love that you deserve.

his shirt buttons would be undone and your hands would be caressing his bare skin under the shirt that`s not completely taken off. he would always find himself kissing you across the span of your neck, your chest and the back of your upper arm while he puts them upon his shoulders. he would be undressing you and be completely enamored by how goddamn beautiful you are and then he would use his strength to lift you up against him and place you upon the kitchen aisle while simultaneously caressing your bare legs and wrapping them around his hips to let you have him like he wants to have you.

the kisses would only grow fervent, it would go on for hours leaving you two breathless and extremely hot from within, bare chests pressed against each other. you two would take turns to take off the other one`s glasses while giggling and then proceed to quickly wrap each other in each other`s arms not leaving a single space in-between you for long as wonwoo would personally take the responsibility to shift both of you in the couch or either of yours bed.

“you okay?” he would ask you while laying you down and placing the pillow under your head.

“hmm, okay.” you would nod and reply a bit quickly, encasing his face in your palms and pulling him in.

it was wild to think how you could even control yourselves this much before you two had declared your feelings for each other and gave this relationship a name.

it was like with the confession, some doors inside the two of you has been unlocked and now it`s somehow extremely difficult to get out of them.

the relationship with wonwoo isn`t anything like what you had with any others. personally, the last time you simply had any romantic feelings for anyone, it was jeonghan and that too was more innocent than this.

wonwoo might not have been your first love but he is that final line of this chapter. he has unwrapped a part within you that you didn`t know existed, that you feared wasn`t in you. sometimes you told yourself perhaps he doesn`t love you, perhaps it`s just a liking. but something brave inside you told you that he indeed loves you and that even if you`re too blind to fully take in everything, it is alright, just like wonwoo said, go at your own pace but just stay afloat, just stay with him.

because for you to feel alive, his hands has already reached a part deep within you that you yourself haven`t reached and his lips has kissed the blood in your hands, the blood that has dried up while holding onto yourself from falling apart and the pain inside your ribs.

the ‘you’ who once felt like you were defective at certain aspects of your life found yourself running through the finish lines of each and every one of them. and, at every end of that line was wonwoo, standing and waiting for you.

it was the reassurance that he gives you that moves you from within. maybe this is how you two were written, meeting each other in the middle - his cheek on your chest and you kissing the nape of his neck, right where the sun reaches every single day where no one from any part of that town has kissed him.

fin.

[godshitgirl]

Mpreg soukoku for the soul part 2✨️🫄🧑‍🍼

Dazai and chuuya have been seeing both more and less of each other since that night

More because Dazai has been taking his new job of protecting chuuya very seriously, albeit with some jokes around here and there

And less because chuuya has been overcompensating at work over a flaw his boss doesn't even know about. By taking in extra missions, he's making it up to mori in hopes that fate will go easy on him when he can no longer hide his belly

Kouyo has also been going on more missions with chuuya as well. Even on missions where her presence was not needed

All this makes chuuya feel uneasy, he knows something is up. One afternoon, on their day off (chuuyas day off, dazai just didn't come into work that day) the two of them were on either side of the couch in dazais apartment, which is nowhere near as large and fancy as chuuyas, but they like it there.

Dazai is reading a book on omega male pregnancies while chuuya tries to read a book of his own. However, something was on his mind

"Hey, dazai" chuuya asks. Dazai lifts up his book to look chuuya in the eye. "What's up?"

Chuuya doesn't speak for a second. He doesn't even look at him. With his eyes focused on the ceiling where a fan is slowly pacing around its axis, he asks him a question

"Do you and kouyo have...something you want to tell me?"

Dazai sits up, putting his book down on his lap with a confused expression on his face

"No...why?"

Chuuyas grip on his book hardens as he grits his teeth

"Don't fucking lie to me" He growls

"Huh? Chuuya what do yo-"

"I said don't lie to me!"

Chuuya erupts from the couch in a fit of rage, a kind of rage dazai has never seen before

"I know that you two have been eyeing me like crazy! Helicoptering me like I'm some dumb little child! I'm not weak! Stop treating me like I am!"

"Chuuya calm down-"

"Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean i-"

"Doesn't mean what, chuuya?!"

Dazai's sudden outburst catches chuuya off guard.

"Chuuya I have spent my whole life by myself. Everything I love keeps being taken away from me. And now that I have something valuable, something like you, you think I'd just let it go that easily? You think I'd just play willy nilly with its soul? Your wellbeing is much more important to me than mine and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep you safe. And you don't even appreciate it. No "thank you dazai" no "you're so sweet dazai" it's always just complaining with you! Sometimes I even wonder if you love me at all!"

A hush falls over the room.

"Dazai, i-"

"Save it. I need some air" He fixes the collar of his coat and leaves the apartment

Chuuya is left alone, just like he knew he'd be

But this time it wasn't all dazais fault like it was before. Back then he could easily blame him for everything, for leaving, for abandoning him, for all the pain he caused. But now? This is all on chuuya. Maybe if he had been different, maybe if he was less....like himself, dazai would be happier to be with him

And now not only is he alone, but so is his future child. He puts a hand on his stomach as he looks down, a sorrowful look on his face.

"I'm so sorry little one...." He whispered to it.

Meanwhile, dazai walks down the dark streets of Yokohama as the rain showered him in despair. He doesn't mind his coat getting wet, it's seen worse

He heads into a local bar and takes a seat in a booth, alone with his thoughts. He doesn't know how long he's been in there until a man joins him in his booth.

"I knew you'd be here" kunikida says as he takes a seat across from him

"What?" Dazai asks, begging him to cut to the chase. He's not in the mood to talk.

"Heard about you and chuuya." Kunikida says as he takes a sip from his glass

Dazai sighs. "Sometimes I think I'm the only one who makes an effort in this relationship, yknow? I know we have history but, is that it? Are we just staying together because it feels familiar? And now we've got this kid and....I just....I don't know...."

Kunikida let's him finish talking and waits a second before starting

"You want my advice?"

"I'd rather have that drink in your hand"

Kunikida hands the glass over to dazai "i think you two are toxic as hell"

Dazai makes a subtle surprised look

"You both think you're doing the most while the other does the bare minimum. You both think the other has horrible qualities. You both find each other familiar. But you stick together despite it all. Maybe that's not just because it's familiar. Maybe you stick together because you know it's right. What I love about your relationship is that you can say whatever you want to each other and the next day you're still there. Plus, given the type of person you are, he probably had to deal with just as much. You're perfect for each other because you two are so goddamn imperfect that it just fits. A broken glass only stays together if the pieces that broke fit."

Dazai didn't expect to take any of kunikidas advice. He was planning on barely listening and just leaving him to pay his tab. But to his surprise, he got to him

Dazai gets up from his sadly slouched position and sits up properly, giving kunikidas words a lot of thought. He traced the rim of the glass with his finger. It was funny because he was doing the same thing in the same booth at this very bar, when he had his first drink witj chuuya

They were both still in the mafia back then, only about 15, when they took down a small group of thugs that were robbing the bar. Not for any righteous reason, though, the group had just been a big pain in the Port Mafia's trading business by stealing months worth of products so Double Black were sent to get rid of them

Chuuya was having a particularly bad day that day, and his anger let him do most of the fighting. Meanwhile, dazai got bored and distracted himself by examining an old looking bottle of brown liquid

By the time chuuya was done, dazai had started calling him over

"Oi! Chibi! Check this out!" He called

"I'm right here next to you you don't need to shout!" "Says the guy shouting right now! "What do you want?!"

"Check this out" dazai said, showcasing the fancy old bottle

"Scotch? You think you can take that?" Chuuya asks

"Oh and you can?" Dazai rebutted

"Please, I grew up in tje slums, if we were thirsty it was either this or the shit-infested water down by the creek. Give me that" he grabbed the bottle right out of dazais slender hands and took a swig out of it

He immediately regretted it as tje moment the liquid entered his mouth and went down his throat, tje boy coughed and gagged, choking on the horrid flavor, much to dazais delight

"Oooh look who can't handle a sip of a little alcohol! Mister Slumlord Gangster!" He teased as he took a confident gulp of the same drink

The feeling was intense. Words his little 15 year old mind couldn't fathom its flavor. In mere seconds he was a coughing, gagging mess just like his friend over there

Once their lungs had settled, dazai took a look at his unfriendly companion. It was only now that he realized how similar they actually were. Just two messed up teenagers barking way too big for their bite and projecting their insecurities on each other. But at least they did it together

"Um, sir?" An unfamiliar voice asked

Dazai snapped out of his trance to look up at the waiter

"Were closing now, sir. Please come back tomorrow"

Dazai and kunikida walked out of the bar to be greeted by the rain.

"You do some thinking for once, okay?" Kunikida said as a parting gift as the two of them went their separate ways

Dazai thought about chuuya the entire way home. As he entered his apartment, he realized, wait, isn't chuuya supposed to be here?

He looked around the small area and saw no sign that he was even there. The place was as he had left it, minus chuuyas things.

It wasn't like he was moving out, he had never moved in in the first place, but something about how empty the place looked without him just didn't feel right.

He figured he had just gone home. Taking his phone and dialing his number, he thought about what he was even going to say. How do you have an outburst like that and just leave? What are you supposed to say after that?

Dazai wasn't going to admit he was wrong. Was he wrong even? He didn't know. But maybe this was something he could work out with chuuya

Chuuyas phone rang, causing vibrations that went around the side of his pants. He took it out of his pocket and examined the small screen, making an uneasy face as he realized it was dazai. He took a second to imagine the pros and cons of answering, but after a few seconds the ring tone was bothering him, so he decided to do it anyway

"Hey, i-"

"Listen. I'm sorry about what I said, but I don't think it was wrong. We both have flaws and I think our relationship is strong enough to work through that. I'm sorry I yelled, okay? Please come back so we can talk about this."

"Dazai, I'll talk to you later, I'm at work." "Oh right. Sorry. I'll talk to you later"

Tje call ended and chuuya put his phone down.

"Call from the hubby?" Mori asked, turning around to face chuuya as he walked

"Yeah, we just got into this big fight, it's no big deal. And hey, he's not my husband."

They were walking down one of the many hallways of the Port Mafia headquarters when they stopped in front of a small empty room

"Not married, I see..." . Mori said witj a smile, watching chuuya walk ahead of him into the room.

"That's gonna change after you have the baby, though, right?"

Chuuya turned to face mori with eyes big as saucers

Before he could say anything or make a move, a thick layer of glass appeared to separate them, or mostly just to keep him inside. No matter how much he kicked or punched or manipulated his way out, he still couldn't make a scratch.

"You must've thought I was a fool to think I wouldn't find out" mori said

"Boss! I can still work through this! I can still be useful! I promise!"

"I don't need another mouth, chuuya." Mori shrugged off his statement as he slowly walked away

"You and your child are of no use to us now."

[quiveringdeer]

Reiner's gonna be giving names to all his houseplants. One of them is a cactus named Pock. 🌵

H'okay, SO! Here's the thing Nonnie, I've been sittin on answering this ask cause only one thing has populated my mind since reading it and I was like, Nat pull yourself together girl and stop being a weirdo all the time. But the thing is, Nonnie. That would be burying a very important piece of myself and at the age of 30 I said I wasn't doin that shiz anymore. (also this is a dramatic buildup for no real good reason lol)

What I haven't been able to dislodge from my mind is the image of a cactus my friend has that is a very, particular shape. And It's had me thinking that Reiner just names his plants after friends in general (cause he tries to be friends with Pock now that they're grown but Pock is Pock sooo... yeah) And he's actually not even the one who named it after Porco, Annie of all people suggested it.

Annie: "It pricks, he's a prick. It fits." Uncaring shrug.

Now generally Annie keeps things to herself. But you see, Nonnie. Earlier in the day, she'd had a late start to the morning and gotten to her favorite bakery way past prime pastry buying time. Hang with me, It's coming together, promise. So. She's there, waiting in the exorbitantly long line, this is why she likes to get there super early. And Pieck spots her from up closer to the register. Pieck comes to engage her in convo, which with Annie being in more of a mood than usual, is really just Pieck trying to catch up and Annie giving small grunts here and there in response.

Porco was with Pieck, cause of course he was. He stayed in line and is at the register now. He doesn't even have to call Pieck back up cause he already knows the orders that she prefers. So he orders and also just happens to choose a particular pastry from the display case that is the last of its kind. He's never tried this one before and he's feeling adventurous today.

As the barista opens the case to draw out the delicious confection, Annie's eyes widen. It was the one she'd come for. The thing that could lift her spirits out of the dank, festering, turgid mass of shittiness she'd already endured so early in the day.

The line moved forward. She remained. Eyes trained on Porco as he sauntered over to Pieck's location next to her, still waiting on their drink orders to come up. It took everything in Annie not to snatch the flakey ambrosia from his grimey fingers before he took a huge bite. Buttery crumbs falling against the worn brown leather of his bomber jacket.

And yet, what solidified her ire. The slight that stitched spite so steadfast throughout her spirit to spark such an unanticipaited conversational contribution hours later that day...

After Pieck asked him how the delicacy tasted, Porco had the audacity to mutter that it was alright.

Just, alright?!

Expertly, Annie forced down her boiling indignation. Outwardly, her icy blue eyes narrowed to slits as she turned her attention to finally moving up in line. She'd have to settle for her second favorite danish alongside her vanilla caramel frappé, but this event would long be remembered.

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

Annie's suggestion actually wrings a hearty chuckle from Reiner and he can't deny the truth of her sentiments. So. Porco the cactus--Poctus if you will--is born.

The fact that as it grows it begins to take on a very peculiar shape only adds to it's list of nicknames. And Reiner isn't sure if he's fucked up taking care of it somehow or if the universe decided to bless him with something that sparks instant joy and amusement everytime he sees or thinks about the prickly succulent.

Alright for those that stuck with this unexpected rambling imagine, here is your reward. Hopefully it makes you laugh like it does my friends and I everytime we think of it.

I present to you....

Cocktus!

[headintheclouds76]

It All Started Over A Crepe

Sorry we are closed… my heart is broken. I'm too sad to make crepes.

The hand-written scrawl hanging from the door of his favorite shop read. What the actual fuck… No… this could not be happening. Last night had already been rough, what with the unhappy events that had been going on in his life. He needed his strawberries and caramel crepe right now, his favorite comfort food during times like these. Ben tries to push the door open and is surprised to realize that it gives. With a shrug of his shoulders, he walks into the inviting interiors of the warm cozy shop house.

"We are closed for the day, sheesh… Can't you read the sign?" comes the disgruntled reply from the usual peppy owner with her cheerful disposition and it makes Ben's heart sink to realize how depressed she sounded. He began to swear inwardly at whichever insipid guy had decided to break her heart.

"Ye-ah… Saw that… But hey, quick request." Ben says as he cautiously approaches Rey, who had her head buried in her propped up hands where her elbows were braced against the wooden guest table. "Go on…" Rey replies without lifting her eyes up from their resting place.

"Look, you've got the ingredients. And I am a whiz at following instructions. Maybe… you can guide me at making my order and I can do the work? You won't even have to lift a finger. I promise." Ben wheedles with his hands clasped before his chest in pleading. Rey sighs before she looks up at Ben with reddened teary eyes. "Yeah, I guess we can do that. What flavor do you like?" she asks with a small smile. "The caramel strawberry please. Thank you, thank you! You are a lifesaver." Ben says with a broad smile as Rey removes the apron from herself before tossing it over to him with a returning grin.

Rey gently guides Ben through the various steps of whisking the ingredients while creating the batter for the crepes, ladling the mixture onto the griddle before browning it on both sides evenly. When the beautiful golden circle has been created, Ben lifts it onto a warm plate before filling it up generously with the beautifully red-hued textured berries and proceeds to drizzle a generous amount of caramel from its bottle atop of the tart fruits.

"Well… there it is… Enjoy, Mr Solo." Rey gestures at the plate with a small smile before she starts walking away back to her perch to brood. "Oh… you can call me Ben. And uh… maybe you want to share this with me? I often find it to be a mood-lifter whenever I am feeling at my worst. You look like you could use some." Ben suggests as he raises the tantalizingly adorned plate to her.

"Alright… thank you. You are very kind." Rey says with a smile as she picks up two sets of cutlery from a serving basket before following Ben to the table and proceeds to take a slice of the confection. "Mmm… this is so good. I can see what you mean now." Rey says with a smile as she slowly chews through her mouthful of soft crepe and sweetened strawberries.

As she notices Ben slicing through the crepe for his own bite, Rey smiles softly as she muses over how charming he looks while lifting the crepe elegantly to his lip. He had always been her favorite customer, as he was always so polite and not to mention, gorgeous. But she had held back from acting on her emotions as she had been in a stable relationship, but she was no longer in one…

Maybe… with a bit of luck, this could be a new beginning, for the both of them. She casually eyes his left hand. No wedding ring. Hopefully, just maybe, Rey wondered if he may be single. Little did she know that, he was. The reason after all, for his need for his favorite dessert, was because Ben had just gone through a rough breakup of his own last night, with his girlfriend after a month of courtship…

[schleckermaul]

( 🍭 unprompted valentine's! )

Strangely for today's occasion, Cuscuta's approach was rather noticeable and distinct; noncaring of how much noise she made, hurried steps were quick to approach him unlike her normal pace, almost as if the girl was excited. ❝ Break … Happy Saint Bridget's Day, ❞ she greets with an attempted smile. Gingerly, she hands two items to Break, a bag of treats and a flower, notably a purple iris.

Tied with a yellow ribbon, in the plastic bag were obviously hand-made chocolates and cookies with how misshapen and even slightly burned some of them were. ❝ I gotten the idea to try making sweets for the holiday. I made sure to put sugar rather than salt this time, but I'm still not sure if they're any good … It's okay if you don't want to eat them, ❞ is what she comments when pointing them out. As much as she tried to follow her own advice and put her feelings into them, as expected, her chocolates and cookies were probably not as good as store-bought ones. Still, she can only hope Break appreciates the gesture, even if he doesn't eat them. Or that they weren't actually that horrible.

❝ As for the flower, I remember reading about it in a book ... It reminded me of you. I thought you would like it. ❞ Her statement almost made it sound like an afterthought, but for someone who liked flowers as much as her, it was clear the gift beared some significance. Rarely does Cuscuta grow anything but black or white flowers, however this felt like a special occasion; she did choose this specific flower and color for a reason.

After explaining her gifts, Cuscuta goes quiet for a moment. Shifting her weight from one foot to another, she seems almost hesitant now. ❝ Break, ❞ she finally says. ❝ If there's anything else ... specific you want for today, just let me know … I'll do my best to get it for you. ❞

( geez, break, how come you get three things from cuscuta sorry break for the horrible awful chocolates )

— @revivancy

HE'S ALREADY SMILING THE SECOND he hears those particular footsteps approaching. it's funny, that you can tell cuscuta is in a very different mood just by the way she walks up to him. break doesn't question the change in his own mood too much, how some of the weight on his chest lifts, how he feels a bit warmer. it's nice. it's very different to feeling panicked when she speaks up, standing right behind him, without him noticing her presence at all beforehand.

   it's happened before. plenty of times, in fact. he'd like to think he's learning, or maybe he's just bridging time until he can rely on mad hatter a bit more, to tell him when even the quietest of people are getting closer.

   break takes the flower first. he doesn't know too much about what kinds there are, or what they mean, despite it being a big topic in noble circles back home. sharon certainly talked his ear off about it being a trope in one of her romance novels plenty of times. he regrets not listening to her explanations every single time, now. but, still, stroking a few of the petals carefully, he can tell the difference in shape, its fragility. as he listens to cuscuta's explanation, he lets out a soft breath, carefully tucks it behind his right ear alongside a few strands of white hair.

   ' sugar instead of salt sounds like a good idea, ' he huffs, clearly amused, but with a different note in his voice than anybody would be used to: fondness, clear as day. nibbling at one of the cookies, break's composure dissolves into a short burst of laughter.

   oh, they are horribly burnt. crunchy, one could say. there is the subtle hint of a sweet flavour in there, which must be the sugar she mentioned, but it's mostly burnt, tasting slightly of ... is that caramel? that's almost impressive. definitely better than anything he could whip up in a kitchen. it's humbling, to know that she spent time and effort doing something she hasn't done before, hasn't mastered yet. that she's here, delivering it anyways, despite the uncertainty about whether or not he'd like it. she tells him he doesn't have to eat them, she tells him she read about a flower in a book and went out of her way to collect it for him, because she thought he'd like it.

   he is reminded, vaguely, of sitting in the gardens of the rainsworths, his left eye still healing, covered by bandages. a small lady sharon approaching, shy, bouquet in hand. having gone out of her way to gather flowers, for him.

   ' well! miss cuscuta— thank you very much! ' break does not give her any warning whatsoever. scooping cuscuta up under her arms, break lifts her into his arms and twirls, in a few circles, holding onto her tightly, making sure she won't fall. when she's set back on the ground, break's grin is as wide as it can get, a delighted chuckle on his tongue, patting her head a few times.

   ' i have something for you, as well. ' he rummages once more, but is fairly quick about it this time, excitement evident. before he can think about why, he's already knelt down in front of her, paper in hand.

   ' one card, for the sweet lady. ' it's another simple design, a pastel blue card with two figures drawn on top, easily recognizable despite his lack of artistic talent, since he kept it to very simple shapes: a blue doll, looking an awful lot like emily, next to a black bunny with golden eyes. in zhilan's handwriting, it says, happy valentine's, miss, underneath the figures, with a small heart at the very end.

   break doesn't wait for her to react. in fact, he's used this moment of her looking at it to grab the second present, safely tucked away under his coat. ' and one hat! i knitted it myself, i hope it fits. ' he's tempted, immediately, to put it on her, but instead merely holds it up by the ... are those ears? oh, they certainly are. after receiving cuscuta's drawing, this is either a very smart move, or a very good joke. or maybe it'll be both. here's hoping.

   ' i made sure to include your ... ears? so you can keep them warm, in cold weather like this. can't have you getting sick. who will i spend my time with? ' it's the chunky yarn he'd bought a while ago, but in mustard yellow, this time around, expertly crafted. peeking above the hat, break squints lovingly at cuscuta. ' and as for things i'd like to do ... how about we take a walk? collect some flowers together? i can't be the only one who has one, i'd feel bad. '

   and he doesn't. he doesn't feel bad. he feels good, and happy, if a bit nostalgic. but with things to do, who has time to dwell on that?

[bowandcurtsey]

hello! can i request a hc for BC boys (yuno,william, and nozel) with an s/o thats a cutie and is basically very affectionate and radiates sunny vibes because these three are very introverted the s/o is basically the complete opposite in terms of personality(srry if its very descriptive!)

Hello sweetie!! Sorry I couldn't find your name but thank you for requesting this! I hope you get to read it and sorry for being soooo late to your request! <3 It is a really cute request UWU

Yuno | William | Nozel x f! reader

TW: unchecked work!

Yuno Grinberryall

You caught his eye from the very beginning; for you were so much like his best friend and rival, Asta. Except of course, you were not that LOUD. (Thank god, he thinks to himself all the time.)

You always lifted his spirits whenever he was stressed out or down. This man is always hard on himself especially during training but you're always there to encourage him.

It was just so easy to be attracted to you, he just naturally loved being close to you all the time.

Once, you made these cute little sandwiches for the entire squad and everyone was just praising how cute they were and suddenly, the question of where the rest of the bread went to, since they were cut out in cute little shapes. And you replied you ate them all and now you were just so full.

Yuno just couldn't help but chuckle at how cute and kind and silly you were all at the same time. And that was it for it. That magical moment that he realised he was already in love with you.

He's always looking at you from afar while you do whatever you were doing and would just smile to himself at how cute you actually are.

He's not the kind of s/o that would tell you his problems but he would be much closer and spent much much more time with you than his usual.

Of course you would know that he's down so you'll give him a huge hug and a peck on the cheeks, that would lift his spirits so much more.

William Vangeance

Loves petting your head. Whenever he finds you so adorable, he can't help himself and he would let out a chuckle and shake his head, "why are you so adorable my darling,"

Well, many members on his squad are kind and warm as well, but it was just fate that tied you both together.

You found him after the elf invasion, on the rooftop of the HQ, looking over at the clover kingdom and rethinking about everything he did, including 'killing' Julius.

You called out to him and he tried to smile to you, hiding his emotions but you just smiled back and him and told him to let it all out and that it was okay.

You told him you still trusted him and respect him and he just broke down in front of you all over again.

To him, not only you were cute and kind, you were like an angel.

He was kinda shy initially at your affection, especially when you were in public. He would freeze and get awkward or even felt undeserving of this love and happiness bestowed to him even after all the bad things he had done.

But you're just the sunshine in his life, chasing all the gloomy clouds in his mind. Step by step, you made him open up again, accepting his mistakes and making peace with himself.

He was still a little shy if you showed any public display of affections, but he would smile happily and accept it. If he was in an extremely spontaneous mode he would kiss your hair or forehead back.

Nozel Silva

This man didn't really like you at first. He thinks you were a little too overly affectionate to his standards because you were friendly with everyone.

But somehow you just grew on him until he couldn't go through the day without seeing you. He would be so grumpy he doesn't even know why. It was just so dull and quiet without you around.

After you both got together he was just such a baby behind closed doors. He always wanted your attention and affection. Please just run your finger through his hair, he might purr in your lap.

Whenever he's in a bad mood, only you could cheer him up. You don't really have to do much, he just felt so much better in your presence.

He would usually only open up to you about the problems he was facing and loved whatever encouragements you gave to him because he trusted you wholeheartedly.

"if y/n says I can do it, I can and i will" Kinda mentality. You're like his fuel.

He's the jealous type so he doesn't really like you giving your affection to someone else. If it was another man that was not your family member, he would be REALLY grumpy. Actually, even if that man was your family member like your cousin or brother he might still get a little sulky.

But not to worry, he won't pick a fight with you or anything, he'll just want a little more affection at the end of the day or when you get to see him again. You are his happy pill afterall.

-end-

I felt so happy writing this hehe! Thank you for requesting!

[sweet-by-and-by]

Give Me What I Need- Arthur Morgan x Reader

summary: Arthur finally makes it home after a stagecoach robbery scouted by Uncle goes horrifically sideways. You have just the thing to set his sour mood right.

pairing: Arthur Morgan x Reader

warnings: smut🔞, small spoilers for "An Honest Mistake" in Ch.3

a/n: “It was a dark and stormy night” Just kidding! Kind of. The temptation to start this fic with that sentence was seriously too strong. Just a little diddy I came up with while sitting in a thunderstorm! With our first heatwave inevitably comes a string of wild thunderstorms, and I’m definitely looking forward to sitting in my sunroom and watching the rain. SO much love to @farbenfux for beta-ing this for me!! I can not tell you how much better this fic is now that she’s worked her magic on it ❤ Check her out to see her incredible artwork!

AO3

The crack of thunder startled you, making you jump involuntarily. You laughed at your reaction, chastising yourself for being frightened so easily. You shook your head and returned to your sewing, holding the needle close to the lantern to aid your sight as you slipped your thread through the eye and looped the knot.

It was late evening in Lemoyne, and based on the sound of thunder in the distance and the wind that had picked up after supper, one hell of a summer thunderstorm was rolling in. You and the girls had cleaned up quickly before retreating to your tents, them to their shared lean-to and you to the tent that you and Arthur shared.

As you returned to your mending, your thoughts drifted to your outlaw. The last you saw Arthur, he was riding out to rob some stage coach with Uncle, Charles, and Bill. He was already in a mood when he came to kiss you goodbye, and you were sure getting caught in a storm would do nothing to ease his temper.

You checked your pocket watch, your concern growing as you realized how late it was getting. They should have been back before supper, but the sun had long disappeared behind Flat Iron Lake and there was still no sign of their crew.

You pushed those thoughts to the back of your mind, focusing on your task to distract yourself. It worked for a few more hours when the rain started, but when your watch read past midnight and your lantern flickered as the oil burned low, your stomach had sunk and your heart was hammering. Something had gone wrong and all you could do was wait for one of them to show up, yelling about how the law had got them and they were all fit to hang.

Just as your sinister thoughts had you rising to go find Dutch or Hosea and organize a search party, the canvas walls of your tent flew open. A crack of lightning struck in the distance, its accompanying thunder growing louder than ever. Rain wailed against the side of your tent, testing the waxed canvas for everything it was worth. You yelped as a very wet, very angry Arthur Morgan stormed in through the opening he had made.

Your heart fluttered at the sight of him, and relief flooded through you as you registered that he was okay. You took a deep breath and brought your hand up to your chest, settling yourself from your scare and your hours of worrying.

This was completely unnoticed by Arthur, who stomped over to the table to drop his soaking wet hat. You winced at the sound of water squelching in his boots, and you had to stifle a laugh at how deep the frown was set on his face.

“That man is the laziest, dumbest, drunkest no-good son of a bitch I have ever had the displeasure of knowing,” Arthur growled, sliding his satchel and gunbelt off and throwing them on the table beside his hat. “I swear, the next time he brings in some incredible tip, I’m throwing his pickled ass right into the lake.”

You blinked as Arthur continued his rampage, plopping himself on your cot and fighting to remove his boots.

“Arthur...” you said, drawing his attention to you. You moved to sit next to him on your bed, resting a hand on his shoulder to calm him. “...what the hell happened to you? I’ve been sitting here for hours worrying myself half to death.”

Arthur sighed and chucked his sopping boots, shaking his head and resting his hand on top of yours.

“I’m sorry, Princess,” he said, “I didn’t mean to worry ya’. Things got a little out of hand with the stagecoach. Turns out they ramped up security after Uncle picked up the lead. Had to wait ‘em out in some barn and shoot our way outta the woods. Then this god damn storm came in and soaked me down to my bones,” he explained, gesturing to his dripping hair and soaked jeans.

Your eyebrows shot up to your hairline and your eyes grew wide. You couldn’t believe they had made it out of that glorious mess, and you couldn’t blame him for his frustration. Leaning in to kiss his cheek empathetically, you cupped your hand against the other side of his face and pulled him close.

“Tell you what,” you murmured, a smirk blooming across your face as you swung your leg over to straddle him, “why don’t we get you outta’ these horrible clothes and take your mind off of things.”

Arthur’s hands moved instinctually, settling on your hips. You worked the buttons of his shirt open, placing kisses against his skin as you revealed his neck and chest. You nipped at his collarbone, biting at the sensitive skin with just a hint of teeth before returning to kiss his neck. He hummed happily, the deep sound tingling against your lips.

You pushed his shirt off of his shoulders, forcing him to let go of your hips to free his hands. You took the chance to rise to your feet, hushing his protests as you backed away. He tossed his shirt to the ground with a splat, the sound of the wet fabric making you giggle.

Before Arthur could reach for you, you sank to your knees in front of him. You pushed his thighs apart and crawled in between, looking up at him and batting your eyelashes. Your innocent gaze was a sweet contrast to the movement of your hands, sliding up his thighs to reach for his fly. He groaned at the sight of you, his half-hard cock already straining against the buttons.

He threw his head back and moaned when you unbuttoned his jeans, cupping and squeezing his length through his union suit. You pressed the heel of your palm lightly against the base of his cock, stroking your thumb along the length of his bulge.

He whined quietly when you released him, shushing him as you hooked your fingers in his waistband. He arched to help get his jeans off, lifting his hips as you dragged the wet denim down his legs and tossed them behind you.

You turned your attention to his union suit, rising to your knees to start at the top. He roughly pulled you in for a kiss - all teeth and tongue in his impatience. A small bite to your bottom lip and the following soothing nibbles had you groaning. You forced yourself to pull back, leaning away as he chased you.

A firm push of your hand to his chest pushed him back into a half sitting, half leaning position on your cot."Ah ah,” you scolded, “you’ll get what you want, but you’ll get them on my terms.”

Arthur scowled at your words, glowering at you with unrestrained passion. His eyes narrowed and he grit his teeth, staring you down from his place on the cot. You laughed at his expression, keeping a hand on his chest as you leaned in to press a chaste kiss against his lips, appeasing him only slightly. You returned your focus to his buttons, baring him as you finally uncovered him.

The fabric was just as soaked as the rest of him, his skin glistened from the rain as you revealed him bit by bit. You ran your fingers through his damp chest hair, playing with the soft curls for a moment before resuming your work. Arthur’s hands rest anxiously on his thighs, squeezing the fabric as he tried to resist reaching for the buttons himself. He knew what your terms meant, and any disobedience would draw your motions out even longer.

You rewarded his patience one you were finished by letting him strip himself of his union suit before grabbing his thighs and pushing them wide. You lowered your face to his crotch, dragging your tongue from root to tip of his fully hard member. You wrapped your fingers around him, pulling back his foreskin to circle your tongue along the ridge below his head. He moaned loudly, his hands flitting to the back of your head as he threaded his fingers into your hair. You licked at the velvety crown with just enough pressure to send a shiver up his spine, savouring the taste as you lapped a bead of precum from his slit.

Squeezing the base of his cock lightly, your lips stretched over his head as you swallowed him whole. You felt Arthur’s grip tighten, pulling your hair as you pressed your tongue against him. You forced yourself to relax, taking him as deep as you could until his head brushed against the back of your throat. Arthur groaned at the sight of your nose pressed against the hair at his groin. Your eyes fluttered closed as you moaned in response, the vibrations making him thrust involuntarily as you held him down. You hollowed your cheeks and pulled off, the tip of your tongue teasing his frenulum before releasing him with an audible pop.

You looked up at him with a heated stare, pushing against his hands as you lifted your head. Arthur’s knees weakened at the sight of your pupils blown wide and your lips swollen and rosy, suddenly grateful to already be seated. He took his hands from your hair and held your face, pulling you up to press his lips against yours. He kissed you hungrily, bringing you up to sit on his lap once more. He dragged the tip of his tongue along your lip, seeking entrance while his hands worked at the buttons of your blouse. You let him undress you, complying as you deepened the kiss and allowed him to take over.

He made quick work of your blouse and skirt, fighting a little with your corset before getting you down to your chemise. He tugged the garment over your head, tossing it to join the rest of your clothing as he dragged his gaze up and down your body. You flushed under his attention, arching your back to give him a show. He growled at the sight, wrapping his arms around you to hold you against him as he thrust against you.

You gasped at the feeling of him pressed so close to your core, grinding down in search of relief. He ran his hands down your sides, reaching behind to squeeze your ass before slipping a hand between you. He rubbed his thumb against your clit, breathing hot against your neck as he circled your mound. You clutched him and groaned when he slipped a finger inside of you, surprised at how little resistance he met. He quickly added a second, your slick dripping as he stretched you out. You dug into his shoulder when he added a third, working you open perfectly as he crooked his fingers inside of you. He brushed against the spot that made you see stars, and it was your turn to throw your head back and moan. Your hips grinded against his hand, bringing you closer and closer to your edge.

You hissed at the loss of Arthur’s fingers, whining in his ear as he wiped his hand against the bed. He shushed you reassuringly and grabbed hold of himself, lining up until the head of his cock brushed against you. He pushed in slowly, rolling his hips and encouraging you to sink down onto him. You obliged, taking him inch by inch until you were fully seated.

You panted as you adjusted to his size, the tight heat making him whimper against your skin. You clenched around him at the sound, and he let out a broken moan. You rocked against him, his big arms wrapped around you as you eased off of him. He thrust upwards, meeting your hips each time as you set a steady pace.

You felt yourself clawing at his back as you took him deeper each time, the feeling of being so full sending your mind into a haze. Your world shrunk down to the feeling of him . Arthur slipped even deeper as he angled his hips and pulled you down onto him, leaving you gasping at the new stretch. You took him willingly, the sounds falling from your lips growing louder as you felt a familiar heat pool in your stomach. You quickened your pace, using your hands on his shoulders as leverage to ride him, the glorious feeling of him fucking in and out of you sending you barelling towards orgasm.

“Arthur,” you groaned, “I’m gonna-”

“Me too honey, don’t stop!”

The sound of thunder drowned out your cries as you tipped over the edge, the tight flutter of your walls bringing Arthur with you. He pressed his hips against yours as he came, moaning wantonly into the crook of your neck as he bit at the flesh there. You were sure it would leave a mark in the morning for all to see, but you couldn’t find it in you to care at that moment.

Your movements slowed as you both came down, the fogginess in your mind still hanging. You breathed heavily and reached out for Arthur, lifting his head to rest your forehead against his. You stayed like that for a moment, breathing together as you grounded yourself back to reality before dipping in for a kiss.

You pressed your lips against his softly, savouring the afterglow before you forced yourself to rise. Wincing a little when he slipped out of you, chuckling to yourself when you noticed he did the same. You crossed the tent to retrieve the wet cloth from his shaving kit, cleaning yourself up before bringing it back to where Arthur sat on your cot.

He had leaned back against the wagon, his eyes closed as he once again breathed steadily. You touched his knee, alerting him to your presence before you wiped up his spend with the rag. You whispered apologies at his grimace, still sensitive as he came down.

You tossed the rag off with the rest of your laundry and lowered yourself onto the cot. Arthur followed, pressing up against your back and swinging an arm over you. You nestled into him, shuffling to get closer while he drew up your blanket and wrapped you in its warmth.

“Feeling better?” you asked.

He tilted his head to press a kiss into your hair, humming thoughtfully as you squeezed against him.

“We can figure out what to do with Uncle in the morning, dear," you teased, closing your eyes and letting yourself give in to sleep.

“My vote is still on the lake, but I’m open to suggestions.”

[fairyoftbz]

jealousy | l. hyunjae

🌊 pairing: bf! hyunjae x fem! reader 🌊 wc: 1.9k 🌊 synopsis: at the beach, your mood suddenly swings, and your boyfriend is too oblivious to understand why you're feeling that way. 🌊 genre: angsty fluff, comfort, very cliché, fluffy end 🌊 tw: insecurities, self body-shaming, a petty fight at the beginning 🌊 a/n: yeah I went to the pool the other day and it was pretty much this, except that I didn't have a hyunjae by my side lol... and Spotify played this olivia rodrigo's song a moment after.. but happy birthday to Hyunjae in advance!!! 🥰 🌊 requested: no!

╰☆☆☆☆╮

“What kind of fuckery is that?” you ask yourself when you take a look around you at the beach while Hyunjae was settling your stuff down in the sand, trying not to get too much sand on the cooler. He removed his t-shirt to be more comfortable, girls built like models ogled at your boyfriend’s back and abs, giggling together and biting their lips as they saw his muscles move around.

The beach was filled with slim, fit people, either working out or getting that tan for Instagram. The girls were so pretty and looked like models that could sign with Marc Jacobs, which had the ability to make you even more insecure than you already were. A feeling of uneasiness settled inside your body, especially your heart, who felt heavy with insecurity when you took another great look at the people hanging out around you.

“Here darling, take a seat,” he said as he placed down a wide tablecloth on the sand with your towel on it, thanking him with a brief smile before guiding him to plant the parasol to let you rest in the shade together.

His shoulders and biceps glistened with sweat as he stopped digging to hammer the parasol pole in the sand, rubbing the grains off his fingers to finally sit down next to you. His smile subsided when he noticed you staring into space, gaze on the water, a weary look painted on your face.

“Y/N, is there something wrong? Don’t you want to go in the water?” he quizzed you, not really understanding your mood swing. You were so excited when he offered to go to the beach, and now, you looked sad, almost disappointed to be there.

“You can go ahead, I’ll join you later,” you said as you rested on your back, covering your face with your straw hat.

Hyunjae observed you laying down, frowning as you didn’t even remove your beach dress. Something felt odd, weird. You loved being there and having fun in the water. What was going on?

He looked around to see what could have upset you this much, but he couldn’t find anything. People, friends and couples were laughing and enjoying the sun, just like he had expected you to do with him.

You open your eyes and clench your jaw when Hyunjae lifted your hat off your face, a veil of concern forming in his eyes. Shifting his weight on one hand, the other caressed your upper thigh, the warmness of his palm contrasting with your shivering skin.

“Did I do something that made you mad?” he dared to ask another question, trying to get a glimpse of your thoughts to try to understand what was actually going on. “No you didn’t. I just don’t want to go in the water now, the wind is making me cold,” you lied and Hyunjae sighed, understanding that you wouldn’t share what was on your mind for now.

He kissed your cheek anyway, mouth lingering on your skin a bit longer than usual and stood up, removing his cap and sunglasses while looking at the people around you with a frown. You watch him calmly walk to the water, silently watching the waves crash against his feet, calves and knees the further he walked in the ocean, his glistening back muscles moving as he raised his arms to dive underwater.

You sighed and rolled on your stomach, your back facing the shore as you folded your arms, using the back of your palm as a cheek rest, closing your eyes in the process. A single tear rolled down your cheek, captured by the edge of your sunglasses, followed by many more, letting the insecurities invade your mind. You didn’t even want to look at all the slim, IG models look alike smirking and eyeing your boyfriend up and down as he walked by. You already felt so uneasy to be here, you didn’t want to add fuel to the fire by looking at what you’ve always dreamt to look like being attracted to your partner.

But Hyunjae didn’t even notice those girls. His frown deepened even more when he only saw the back of your body, something quite usual coming from you. You absolutely adored the beach and the ocean, remembering one of your first dates where you told him that the beach - especially at sunset - was your solace, and now you were facing away from this source of comfort. Plus, there were occasions where you came here without really wanting to go in the water, just to enjoy the warmth and the sight of the ocean, happily waving at your boyfriend that was having fun in the water while you stayed in your seat.

He didn’t even notice them looking at him, because his eyes and mind were focused on you and you only, trying to find what had caused you to become this weary and down all of a sudden. He didn’t feel the same when you weren’t looking at him, when you shut yourself out and let your brain overthink on its own, refusing his help. A pinch of discomfort tightened his heart, regretting that he wasn’t as good at reading people as much as he wished to.

“Y/N, Y/N, Y/N, what’s going on in that pretty little mind of yours,” he mumbled under his breath as he got out of the water, still not noticing that the source of your uneasiness were the ones staring at him, a few metres away from him as he walked back to you.

Droplets of salty water landed on your cheek and forearm as Hyunjae bent down to kiss your temple, forcing a tired smile on your face to try and not let anything show on your face.

“Is the water good?” you mindlessly asked as Hyunjae rested on his stomach, just like you, pushing his front pieces of hair back before putting his cap on.

“It’s a bit fresh at first, but once you’re in it, it’s good. You’d love it,” his voice trailed at the end of his sentence, eyes trying to probe your soul and bribe you to join him in the water.

“That’s great,” you nodded and sniffled, handing a bottle of water from the cooler to your boyfriend. He uncapped it but stopped, shifting on his side, resting his weight on his elbow.

“Babe, please, what’s wrong? You’ve been acting strangely since we got here, what’s going on?” he asked, voice ringing with frustration. You briefly looked at him before looking at the ocean, letting out a big sigh.

“Can’t you see anything, Jaehyun? Can’t you see that everyone around me, including you, looks like they just walked out of a Dior photoshoot by how slim and fit and pretty they look? That you have all the girls around us that ogle at you like you’re single? Yes I’m mad, yes I’m insecure, but I have my reasons, don’t you think?” you spat out your insecurities with teary eyes to your boyfriend’s face, who looked at you like he just saw a ghost.

That, was the last thing he had imagined. He never thought that you would get so insecure about this because you looked like the most beautiful girl in his eyes. He was about to speak up, but he placed himself in your shoes for a quick second, insecurities, as well as anger, started boiling in his veins as he imagined men looking at you like a fresh piece of meat.

You started scratching the skin around your thumb, a habit that you picked up when you were stressed and nervous and tears gathered in your eyes as you tried to ignore some girls still looking at and trying to flirt with your man. You wrapped your arms around your knees and pressed your chin on top of it, only to have Hyunjae positioning behind you to have you between his legs, wrapping his arms around your middle to press you against him.

He grabbed your hand to stop you from scratching it and he pressed his mouth against your shoulder, remaining silent as he tried to search for his words.

“No. I didn’t see any of those people, because I don’t care about how they look. I don’t care if the girls look like skinny models or if you find their faces pretty. Do you find the men here handsome ?”

“No,” you said in a wobbly voice, eyes glued to the ocean.

“Why?”

“Because I love you and I only have eyes for you,” you said in a shaky voice and Hyunjae remained in silence for a few seconds, knowing that you were smart enough to get what he was implying.

“So I don’t look at girls because?”

“Because you love me,” you said, voice wavering as tears rolled down your cheeks, Hyunjae holding you close to his chest, trailing salty kisses from your neck up to your cheek.

“Of course I love you, and with all my heart. I wouldn’t be with you if that weren’t the case.”

He grabbed your chin and you shifted to the side, sitting perpendicularly to him. His hands cupped your cheeks to make you look at him and he offered you a gentle smile, his thumbs wiping the paths the tears left on your skin when they rolled down your cheeks.

“I only see you, Y/N. You’re much more than looks, and you can’t say that you are horrible next to them. You are just yourself, someone more honest, prettier and funnier than all those girls around us. They don’t interest me at all, I only care about you. It’s not my problem if they think I’m handsome. As long as you’re in love with me, I'm at my happiest,” he caressed your cheek with tenderness, holding a huge amount of love for you in his eyes. You nodded, trying to make his words imprint in your brain and ignore everything and everyone that was surrounding you, but it was far from being easy.

You delicately touched his cheek and he kissed your inner palm while holding eye contact, assuring you that he only had eyes for you.

“Do you want to go in the water? Yes?” his eyes sparkled with joy as you nodded with a smile, your boyfriend springing to his feet and removed his cap, getting all excited when he watched you remove your beach dress.

“Stop staring at me like that Jae, we’re in public,” you giggled as you threw your dress at him, who hummed your perfume on the fabric before dropping it on your towel.

“I won’t. I want to let everyone know that I only have eyes for you,” he said as he grabbed your hand and started running towards the water, entering it with a big splash and laughter.

You dove underwater to get used to the salty water, reappearing at the surface a few seconds later, Hyunjae smiling at you. He wrapped your legs around his waist and held you close, pressing his lips against yours in a hungry kiss.

“Chill, chill,” you laughed as you pulled away breathless, Hyunjae’s hands caressing your body.

“No, no, I wanna show them that they don’t have a single chance against you. And that you’re taken,” he grunted the last part of his sentence, making you giggle and hugging him close.

“Thank you, Jae,” you mumbled and your boyfriend stares at you with a reassuring smile, pressing his lips to your temple.

“I love you Y/N,” you held eye contact again and Hyunjae was happy to see your smile, kissing your lips the following second.

Gosh, you were so in love with each other.

[letarasstuff]

The Wisdom of Pulling Teeth

(A/N): This was requested by an anon. Enjoy reading!

Summary: Spencer's daughter gets her wisdom teeth removed. How funny will she be after that?

Warnings: Mentions of medication, dentist talks, bad jokes, taking medications and being high because of them

Wordcount: 1k

✨Masterlist✨ _____________________________

As the child of an FBI agent there are not many irrational fears one has. Spencer always warns his daughter about the scum of people, the evil he himself has witnessed.

Between rapists, murderers, stalkers and other bad people is one kind (Y/N) also fears, if not even the most: Dentists.

Every appointment is linked to pain and loud noises in her head. Luckily for the teenager she has good hygiene and except for the annual check-ups she doesn’t need to go to one very often. This is until the latest appointment. Her dentist made the girl get her x-rays done and found out that her wisdom teeth are growing out the wrong way.

“We need to pull all four of them out in order for your other teeth to stay at the position they are now”, she told the teenager. Spencer sat with her in the room, listening to the diagnosis. He made an appointment to get all of them out at once, knowing there is nothing in the world that is able to get his daughter enduring the same pain twice.

Today is the day. The fridge is prepared with food easy to eat, like mashed potato, soup and baby food. Her room is already darkened for her to come home and just sleep the anesthetics off. Cool packs are in the freezer ready to use along with ice cream. It seems like nothing can go wrong.

But everytime Spencer thinks that there is at least one thing that doesn’t go as planned. It’s not that the team got a case and the time he wants to take off if work is in danger. It’s also not (Y/N) herself protesting to go. She knows that if she doesn’t let the dentist do her work that she will have problems and complications in the future with her bitings, resulting in seeing a dentist more often. That’s why (Y/N) complies to her father.

It’s that Spencer hadn’t thought about her anesthetics. To be more specific: How they are going to make his child loopy.

In this case he hasn’t expected to have her escorted out of the treatment room by two nurses, each of them having one arm around her shoulders. “Daddy-O! This is amaaaaazing! I feel soo good and it didn’t huwt wone bit!” She tells him in an excited manner. Her speech is impedinated by the gauge the teenager has in her mouth.

One of the nurses gives him her prescribed painkillers and explains how to redress the wounds and when to come back for a last check up. Spencer carefully stores the instructions in his mind, like he does with the medicine in his satchel. Then he takes his daughter into his arms and tries to navigate her back to the car.

“How are you feeling sweetheart?” The father asks while putting her seatbelt on. Her mood suddenly changes. “I only know 25 letters of the alphabet”, (Y/N) whispers shocked. He looks at her confused. “How so, Darling?”

Once again her mood changes and she begins to cackle. “I don’t know y! Do you get it Dad! Y like the letter. Gosh, I’m so funny. Do you think John Mulaney would do a stand up with me? I have to tell the others the joke. Please don’t ruin my pointe!”

Quickly she puts Jack and Henry in a group chat, to tell them the joke, too. Meanwhile Spencer gets into the car and starts driving.

“Dad, Ellen DeGeneres has my teeth now.” She states, deadly serious. He glances at her. “Does she? Did you ask her for an autogramm for your Aunt Penelope?” This is the moment where (Y/N) dissolves into tears. “I forgot that she likes her. Dad, I’m a bad niece, please don’t tell her that I met her. She’ll be so disappointed in me.” He scrambles for an answer to calm her down. Having a teenager high on anesthetics is stressier than a toddler in their terrible twos.

“Hey, it’s ok. It’s our little secret, alright?” She looks at him, checking for any kind of evidence that he is lying. “You promise?” “I promise.” They link their pinkies at a red traffic light.

“Dad, I’m tired. Please wake me up when it’s all over. When I’m wiser and I’m older”, the teenager tells her father and then is out like a light. Spencer lets out a sigh of relief. At least now he doesn’t have to worry about her doing something dumb.

A little later they reach their apartment complex and he kills the engine in their parking lot. “Sweetheart, you have to wake up. I can’t carry you.” The father gently shakes her shoulder. “Let me be, Dad. Just call Uncle Derek, he is even able to lift a driving car with an elephant in.” (Y/N) pushes his hands off her, but still gets up.

Luckily she is steadier on her feet now, there is no way Spencer would have been able to drag her all the stairs up to the fourth story. Finally passing the door to their apartment he lets his satchel fall down at the foot of their coat racket. Then the doctor maneuvers his daughter into her room. She goes on and on about something in a language he isn’t even sure of its existence.

“Here you go, Sweetheart. Please take these, they’ll make sure you are in no pain when you wake up again”, her father tells her while handing her a couple of painkillers. She inspects them thoroughly. “Will they grow me a second head?” (Y/N) asks suspiciously. “Uhm, do you want them to?” “No. People would look at me weirdly. Our society is not ready for people with more than one head. They can’t even handle it when people have no gender!” “Then no. In fact they prevent you from growing a second head.”

Content with his answer she swallows them and lays down. “You can go now. I need to be left alone. This beauty needs her sleep.” Quietly Spencer leaves the room, wondering what the following days have in store for him.

One thing definitely is certain: A grumpy teenager. Because dealing with cheeks looking like the ones a hamster has isn’t funny.

Taglist:

All works:

@dindjarinsspouse

Criminal Minds:

@averyhotchner @mggsprettygirl @herecomesthewriterwitch

[moralesispunk]

Old Guys Rule

Frankie Morales x Female Reader

Summary: With a birthday coming up, Frankie's insecurities about the age gap in your relationship start to get the better of him

Warnings: legal age gap relationship, insecurities about said age gap, mentions of children but no mentions of how they came to be in the relationship

I found this hat in a shop in Cornwall and I had to write this!

"Are you wanting to do anything on your birthday? I was thinking about booking a table down at that Italians you like and asking your Mom to watch the girls but if you have plans with the guys I can find a different day?" you looked over your shoulder at Frankie from where you had been scrolling through the booking page of the restaurant.

"Hmm? No, dinner sounds fine," Frankie answered, his head not lifting up from his phone as his face stayed firmly unbothered.

"We don't have to do anything if you don't want to..." you trailed off as you turned back to the laptop that was resting on the kitchen counter, not convinced by Frankie's response.

"What?" you could tell that his head had whipped up to look at yours now you had turned around, "No, dinner sounds good, yes. Thank you."

You didn't answer, instead scrolling up and down on the page for a minute as you tried not to take his response too personally. It had been a while since you and Frankie were able to go out for dinner just the two of you, finding it more difficult to get some alone time since the new baby came along and you now had the two girls, so you thought he would like the idea of a romantic dinner alone.

You could hear Frankie's footsteps pad across the kitchen floor until he was leaning against the counter next to you. Avoiding his gaze as he crossed his arms over his chest, mimicking the way his ankles were now crossed over one another, you filled in the booking information before closing the laptop. Without looking at him you turned in the chair to stand but Frankie's hand fell on your wrist stopping you.

"Hey," his voice was soft, "I do want to go out for dinner with you and thank you for booking the place that I like, I just-." Frankie sighed and let you wrist go before dragging his hand down his face as he let his eyes drop to the floor, "I'm just not looking forward to this birthday. I'm in my late forties now!"

"I think you're still mid-forties."

"So much better," he rolled his eyes.

"So you're not looking forward to your birthday because... you're going to be a year older? Forty-six years and thats you just realising how birthdays work?"

"It's not funny."

"I'm not laughing, I'm wondering why that's upsetting you. Whether or not you're looking forward to it you can't stop it."

"You'll make fun of me if I tell you why," his foot was swinging out in front of him before crossing it back over the other again.

"Maybe, but we've been married for six years so I think I'm allowed to make fun of you."

A smile was tugging at the corner of Frankie's lips when he finally looked up to you, his head leaning slightly to the side as he met your eyes. Frankie loved everything about you but he especially loved how relaxed you made him feel. Even though he wasn't in a good mood when you started talking birthday plans, instead of giving in to it you pulled him back from it. You had done it ever since you met him. Frankie could tell you, and has told you, his deepest, darkest secrets and fears and you don't shy away. You don't pull him further into the darkness; you just listen and make him feel comfortable until you help him out the other side.

"I know there isn't a bigger gap between us now that there had been when we first started dating because thats not possible but it just feels bigger now? Like, you're still able to keep up with Sofia when she runs rings around us even after you've been up all night with the baby. You don't have to hold the menu back to read it more clearly when we got out for dinner. You don't have to think about having a sore back for a week if we fall asleep on the couch when watching a movie. You don't even fall asleep when watching movies at eight at night but somehow I do!"

You let his breathing settle a little before you pulled him to stand between your legs, resting your hands on his chest.

"Is it about all these small things or is there something bigger to it?"

You tilted your head to catch his gaze as Frankie's eyes fell to the floor again, stopping him with two fingers under his chin and lifting his eyes to meet yours.

"I just worry that you don't want to be with an old guy like me," he sighed, his hands resting on your thighs.

"I'll have you know that I love that your an old guy. I fall more in love with you every day as you get older. I love that you run around enough with Sofia until you're tired because you don't want to stop. I think you're cute when you have to squint at the menu because you're too stubborn to get glasses, even though I think you would look very handsome in them. And I like giving you back massages when it gets sore because its just an excuse to get my hands on your very sexy, super hot, handsome DILF self."

Frankie barked a laugh, his forehead falling against yours as his hands reached up to cup your face.

"I love you so much, you know that."

"I do, and I love you."

His lips found yours, pressing a soft kiss to them. Just as his mouth opened to push his tongue into yours the sound of tiny footsteps running into the kitchen pulled you both away.

"Mama, Papa!" the voice cheered as Frankie leaned down to swing Sofia up, groaning as he did so.

None of what you had said to Frankie was a lie. You truly did love him more and more every day.

As time went on it had been kind to Frankie. He had fought off his demons for the most part, nightmares only sneaking in every so often, and it showed. He carried a lightness with him, not being weighed down by his past anymore. His eyes crinkle at the side when he smiles, which he does more now than ever. His face has filled out a little more in a healthy way. His jaw is also covered in a patchy beard that now has spots of grey that you love the most even if Frankie doesn't believe you.

❀❀❀

You let Frankie lie in on the morning of his birthday, getting the girls up and ready so you could have a lazy breakfast together before you dropped them at their Gran's while you and Frankie go out for dinner. After sorting out a breakfast, having to start again after Sofia wanted to help and ended up spilling the batter over the countertop instead of in the pan, you carried it upstairs with the girls in tow.

Frankie was already waking up as you opened the door, his face lighting up with a wide grin when he spotted you balancing the baby in one arm and carefully carrying the tray in the other as Sofia carried bags of birthday presents.

"Happy birthday," you and Sofia chimed with a small gurgle coming from your side.

"My beautiful girls, thank you!"

Frankie lifted Sofia onto the bed with the presents, settling her into his side, before taking the tray of pancakes from your hands. Once it was safe on his lap he lifted his head, catching your lips in a kiss, before you sat across from him.

You managed to get through breakfast before Sofia had spoke about opening the presents again and once the tray was placed on the bedside table you got to opening the gifts. With baby girl back asleep and placed on Frankie's chest, Sofia pulled the paper off them more so than Frankie, handing him the opened presents as he thanked you all. Once all the presents that were on the bed were opened you leaned across and pulled another from your bedside.

"One more," you smiled knowingly and Frankie narrowed his eyes at you as you handed him the small bag.

He snaked his arm from around Sofia, holding baby girl close to his chest as he put his hand inside the bag and pulled out a hat.

"Oh a new hat, thanks babe I love-" he stopped when he read the front, looking at you with a grin on his face.

"What does it say?!" Sofia asked, pushing her head in front of her Dad's to see the cap he was holding.

"It says Old Guys Rule!" you exclaimed.

"Because Dad is old," Sofia flung her head back in a fake laugh that bellowed around the room.

"Is that right?" Frankie tickled her sides until she was giggling for real and her head was lying next to her sleeping sister's on Frankie's chest.

"Dad is old, but he's still cool isn't he?" you reached across and pulled Sofia onto your lap as she nodded.

"How does it look?" Frankie pulled it onto his head, a little wonky as he was only working with one hand with the other resting on the tiny body on his chest.

You and Sofia both put your thumbs up and you laughed.

"Four out of four thumbs up!"

"Thanks babe," he chuckled, lifting his hand to settle the cap a little tighter on his head.

"You're welcome, you look even more handsome today. Forty-six suits you," you winked and he smiled.

Yes, Frankie was getting older but he was becoming happier and healthier and you were falling more in love with him every single day.

//

Permanent tag// @phoenixhalliwell @asta-lily @hb8301 @princess76179 @sarahjkl82-blog @spideysimpossiblegirl @blackmarketmummy @bison-writes @dihra-vesa @queridopascal @sfr99 @rosiefridayrogersunday

[edendaphne]

“Discordant Sonata” Chapter 21

>>Click here to read on Ao3<<

>>Click here to read on Wattpad<<

–––––

CHAPTER 21: IMPROVVISANDO

Music glossary: Improvvisando: with improvisation

Glossary: Wǎnshàng hǎo : Good evening Shīfù : Teacher/Master

(Mood music: Night of Beijing - Jia Peng Fang)

That evening

Marinette fidgeted with her napkin, occasionally sipping her now-lukewarm tea while sitting at the kitchen bar counter. Chat Noir sat on the stool beside her in silence, also nursing a half-emptied cup. She checked the clock for what seemed to be the hundredth time in the last few minutes.

“It’s about that time. I’ll head up to my room to let Ladybug inside. Will you get the door if your visitor arrives before she does?”

“Sure,” he replied, uneasy but compliant, doing his best to avoid staring at the black eye she’d received earlier that day.

Marinette set her cup in the sink and headed upstairs, leaving Chat alone with his thoughts.

He tried to keep his fast-beating heart in check, subconsciously clenching his jaw. It was finally happening. He was going to meet “him”: The Guardian of the Miraculous.

Following the events at school earlier that day, Adrien had walked Marinette to her house, where her family invited him to stay for a cup of tea until his “ride” arrived to pick him up. Of course, he’d eagerly accepted. It was nice to interact with the family as Adrien instead of just as Chat Noir.

After leaving, he hid away and transformed so he could sneak in through Marinette’s balcony as he usually did.

Upon transforming, however, he found a series of voice mails from Ladybug that she’d left during Adrien’s attempted abduction. Her voice was frantic. He could hear the urgency and distress in her tone, and a heavy blanket of guilt settled onto his shoulders as he listened.

The first message asked him to come to their school, that it was an emergency, to please call her back as soon as possible. He chewed on his lip, wanting nothing more than to hide away in a cave in shame.

The second one must have been left right after she’d rescued Adrien and left him at the school nurse; she’d called to let Chat know the incident had passed. Then she asked if he was okay, since she hadn’t heard back from him. He sighed. Typical Ladybug, always worrying and thinking about others first, even when she was having a rough time.

The last voicemail caused a trail of ice to trickle down his spine as he listened. Ladybug informed him that she had scheduled an impromptu meeting with the Guardian at the Dupain-Cheng’s house that evening, with Marinette’s permission, and that it was of utmost importance that he attend.

He shivered as goosebumps appeared on his arms and he swallowed hard. What was the purpose of this meeting? Was he in trouble for not showing up today during ‘Adrien’s’ kidnapping? And why meet here, at the Dupain home, instead of somewhere more private and away from civilians? What was the Guardian like? Would Chat get reprimanded and treated with disdain for having been their enemy for all these years, or would he be understanding and forgiving?

More importantly, would he have to disclose his identity to him, or to both him and Ladybug, to prove his loyalty? He winced at the mere thought of it. The last thing he wanted was for Ladybug to think less of him, or to pity him. Especially after the kidnapping attempt.

Additionally, if they were to learn that Hawkmoth was Gabriel Agreste, would they want to confront him head-on? Adrien didn’t feel ready for that, for several reasons.

First of all, would he be able to protect Ladybug, as he’d promised her? Hawkmoth had shown that he’d developed some sort of new power. Either that, or an entirely different person had become involved and was helping him. In any case, he didn’t know what exactly they were dealing with anymore.

Secondly, if the time came and he had to hurt or even kill his father, he didn’t know if he’d be able to do it. Yes, Gabriel was a monster and Adrien despised what he had become. But what if the damage was reversible and there was still a way to bring him back to normal? He just had to know, before doing something he might permanently regret.

The sudden ringing of the doorbell startled Chat out of his thoughts and he practically fell off his seat.

He ran to answer the front door, looking to make sure no one else was around. At the last second, he remembered to detransform and slip on the hood of his zip-up sweater (the one Marinette had gifted him), pulling a scarf over his nose and mouth so he wouldn’t be recognized if anyone outside were to catch a glimpse of him.

He looked out through the peephole, only to see the very top of someone’s head, balding with grey hair, and a little bit of their eyebrows.

Huh. Somehow Adrien thought the Guardian would be a bit… taller?

He turned the knob and the door opened, its squeaking hinges somehow louder than usual. Peeking out from the side like a scared tortoise, he checked to make sure the individual matched the description he was given, then stepped back to allow the door to swing open all the way. The older man stepped inside, closing it behind him.

“Hello,” Adrien said meekly, bowing his head slightly. “You must be…”

“Yes. I am Wang Fu,” he replied, bowing politely in greeting. “It is very good to see you again, Adrien Agreste.”

While Adrien’s face scarf efficiently concealed the way his jaw dropped when the elder man called him by name, there was no hiding the way his eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.

“W- what?!” he sputtered. “How did you—”

The man called Fu chuckled, stroking his beard. “It was a long time ago, but we’ve met before.”

Adrien lowered his scarf and frowned in concentration, falling silent for a few seconds. Then it dawned on him.

“YOU!!” he gaped. “I do remember you! It was my first day of lycée! You fell down in front of our school and I helped you up. It was you who put the cat miraculous in my bag that day, wasn’t it?”

“That is correct,” Fu confirmed.

“But why me? You could’ve picked anyone, so why did you choose someone like me?”

Fu’s smile faltered when he said this. Adrien had said “anyone”, but he could see that Fu knew what he’d actually meant. Why did you choose someone as broken as me?

The man folded his arms behind him, considering his answer. “Guardians are bestowed with several powers and abilities. One of them is to locate and select good candidates for the miraculous jewels. And so I was led to you.”

Chat grimaced in confusion. “So if you already knew it was me, why bother to ‘test’ me?”

“My powers as a guardian may lead me to a potential candidate, but ultimately the choice is still mine to make. It was a simple test, but it showed me what your first instinct would be if you saw someone in need. The answer I received was satisfactory. You were meant to be Ladybug’s Chat Noir.”

Adrien sighed, running a shaky hand through his hair. “Honestly, a couple of months ago I wouldn’t have known whether to hug you because I got to become Chat Noir, or whether to punch you because I had to become Chat Noir. But it’s because of you that I got to meet Ladybug, so I am grateful to you for that. It’s good to finally meet you. Officially.”

He extended his hand and Fu took it with a smile, giving it a firm shake.

Afterwards, Adrien’s gaze fell, brows scrunching together. “I can’t believe it. All this time, you knew. You could’ve told Ladybug who I was years ago. She could have figured out a way to take away my miraculous while I wasn’t transformed, like at school, and she would’ve had one less enemy to deal with. It would’ve––” he pursed his lips, expression full of shame, and he lifted his eyes to meet Fu’s once again, “–it would’ve made it easier for her. She would’ve suffered less if I’d been out of the picture. So why didn’t you?”

Fu’s countenance became somber, his eyes carrying years of pain and regret. He took a few moments to consider his words. “When I was a boy, barely a teenager, something terrible happened. Hundreds of innocent people died, and it was all because of me.”

Chat almost reeled back as if he’d been smacked across the face, puzzled about the sudden switch in topic. He remembered Ladybug briefly mentioning this a few months ago, on the night they danced together. He waited for Fu to elaborate.

“I was only trying to protect them,” the older man explained. “After I was orphaned as a child, the monks of the Guardian Temple took me in. They became my family. They were stern, but fair and kind. It was a tough childhood, but I was happy.” He sighed. “However, there were those who would try to steal the miraculous and use their power selfishly. It was an endless struggle. Many were lost over the years. I longed for peace. I wanted my family to be safe, I wanted us to be left alone. So I did what I thought would be a better route, an easier one; one with less hardship and bloodshed. You see, one day while I was supposed to be on guard duty, I sneaked away to where the miraculous box was kept. I put on both the ladybug and cat miraculouses and used them to make a wish: I wished that our enemies would disappear.”

The older man exhaled, squeezing his eyes shut, the memories of what came next clearly still haunting him. Adrien couldn’t help but hold his breath while he listened.

“It worked,” Fu resumed, voice quiet and slightly shaky. “But as you might have suspected, there is always a price to pay; a balance that must be maintained. Therefore, because of my wish, all the monks in our Guardian temple and the innocent people of the surrounding village were ripped away from me, along with our enemies. The wish was technically fulfilled, but I never suspected that the cost would be that high. I have had to live with that in my conscience for over a hundred years.”

He clasped his hands behind his back, appearing more vulnerable than Adrien would have ever expected. He continued, “Since that time, I have both seen and caused much death in my lifetime, protecting the miraculous box alone as the last Guardian. So, you see, if there was even one person I could save, I had to try. I wanted to trust in the miraculouses, like I should have decades ago, during my misguided attempt to control the outcome of a complicated situation.”

Adrien absently rubbed his arm, pondering Fu’s words. “Looking back,” he began, “I can see the reasoning behind a lot of Ladybug’s decisions and principles, now that I know your story.”

“Indeed. Ladybug is a remarkable young lady; I knew that even back then. When I would ask her if she was willing to risk her life for the sake of a stranger, she would say yes, every single time. If anyone can persevere for the greater good, it was her. Was it unfair of me? Probably. Have I asked too much from her? Absolutely. Have I made mistakes while trying to guide her? Yes. Many of them.” He put his hand on Adrien’s shoulder. “I wanted to save you that day by giving you the cat miraculous. But I never would have guessed that it would also doom you and force you into a role of servitude. I hope that you will forgive me for this.”

Adrien’s heart pained for Fu as he admitted his guilt. “You couldn’t have known it would’ve turned out that way. It wasn’t your fault,” he insisted.

Fu shrugged. “I try to tell myself that, but I can’t quite convince myself. The situation made sense once Ladybug told me about Hawkmoth.”

“You mean, when she told you that Hawkmoth was my father?” Adrien asked.

“Yes,” Fu replied. “I had my suspicions, because it would explain your motivations, but I had no proof, no way of finding out for sure. It made sense that Hawkmoth would be Gabriel Agreste. The butterfly miraculous requires its wielder to be creative and inventive, since it relies on their ability to convert the subject’s emotions into a source of power. And he had the motivation.”

Adrien hummed in agreement.

“Additionally, such a clever and talented individual getting ahold of the cat miraculous would be incredibly dangerous. I’d be lying if I said I had never considered taking your miraculous away. But even still, it was safer to let it all play out. I didn’t want to repeat past mistakes. And if Hawkmoth was Gabriel Agreste, your fate if you were to lose the cat miraculous would have been disastrous. Maybe it would have even alerted him about the presence of a Guardian in Paris. But now that we know the truth, we can plan accordingly.”

Adrien gulped. So Fu had considered taking his miraculous away before. “A-are you going to tell Ladybug who I am?”

Fu shook his head. “It is not up to me to decide when it will be right for there to be no more secrets between you two. I only know that it is not yet time.”

Adrien curiously tilted his head, brows furrowed in confusion. “How do you know that?”

As Fu started to answer, Adrien heard a doorknob twist open behind him and he quickly pulled his scarf back over his features.

The door opened and Ladybug’s voice exclaimed, “There you are! What are you two doing out here in the entryway?”

Adrien cleared his throat, then stammered, “R-right, pardon my manners. Please, come in.”

Fu walked past him, entering the living area. He took Ladybug’s hands between his, shaking them briefly, and said, “Wǎnshàng hǎo, Ladybug.”

With a small bow, Ladybug replied, “Wǎnshàng hǎo, shīfù. Thank you for coming at such short notice. Please, have a seat.”

Chat entered the room, having transformed now, and stepped forward to greet her.

He stopped short, realizing that he wasn’t quite sure how to greet her since last night’s development in their relationship, not to mention being very conscious of the Guardian watching them. He settled for a hug, which she returned, squeezing him tightly, and added a quick, discreet peck on his cheek. He smiled, feeling his face heat up.

Pleasantries aside and everyone seated, it was Ladybug who spoke first.

“Thank you both for being here. There’s a lot we need to talk about.”

----------

A transformed Wang Fu stood at the bedroom window, curtains drawn, chanting in a language that neither Ladybug nor Chat Noir understood, holding the last of several metallic talismans he’d blessed and scattered around the room. The pair kept their eyes on him, marveling at the efficiency and care that he put into each incantation. There was something sacred, even holy about this ritual. They could feel powerful magic emanating from his form, invisible bursts of energy swirling about the room, dancing all around them in a silent symphony.

Ladybug cast a furtive glance at her partner. He’d been quiet for a little while, after learning about his attempted akumatization the night before. Ladybug had told him that it was Marinette who let her know, and that Plagg was the one who had informed her.

She’d called Master Fu before going to school to let him know what happened last night, and he promised he would figure out a solution. He’d spent all day preparing these special talismans, which would ward off akumas and keep them from entering this room. But only this room. He wasn’t strong enough to cast such a potent, long-term spell over a larger area; especially not at his age.

Fu, or rather, Jade Turtle, was silent for a few moments after placing the last charm, a silver one with indecipherable symbols carved into it, then turned around to face the couple.

“The talismans are almost done being enchanted,” he said, pretty out of breath, beads of sweat present on his brow. “There is one more thing that needs to be done. But I think I’ll need your help for this, Ladybug.”

Ladybug stepped forward in response. “Sure, Master. What is it?”

“I would do it myself, but, well… let’s just say I’m not as young as I used to be.”

“Of course Master, anything you need. Just tell me what to do.”

Fu removed his bracelet, the turtle miraculous, and turned back to his civilian self, then handed the jewelry to her. His kwami, Wayzz, floated next to them awaiting instruction.

“If you could transform with my miraculous to finish the protection spell, I’d very much appreciate it. I’ll show you what to do when you’re ready.”

The young woman gaped at him, having never transformed into any hero other than Ladybug before.

“Oh! R-really?? S-sure! No problem...” She took the bracelet hesitantly, studying it like she’d never seen it before, then excused herself to the ensuite for privacy.

In the bathroom, Ladybug detransformed and removed her earrings, handing them to Tikki for safekeeping. She put on the emerald stone bracelet, staring at it as if it might try to crawl away from her if she wasn’t careful enough.

She squeezed her eyes shut in preparation. “Wayzz, shell on.”

Jade green light shone around the bathroom, and Marinette felt the magic of the turtle miraculous engulf her form. When it passed, she gulped and opened her eyes, lifting them to the mirror to catch a glimpse of her newly transformed self.

“Whoa.”

The heroine stared at her reflection across the way. She ran her fingers over the various bits of fabric and armor, taking the time to appreciate the feel and texture. Somehow, she felt quite powerful. Tough. Solid. Almost like a sentient brick wall.

“Wow, Marinette! You look incredible!” Tikki whispered to her.

“Aww, thank you Tikki,” she replied. “It feels so different, but it’s also really cool.”

Sparing one last glance into the mirror, she finally emerged from the bathroom. Fu was seated at the desk chair across the room, taking a short breather. Chat was speaking to him in hushed tones, but turned around when he heard her re-enter the bedroom.

His jaw dropped and he gasped.

“Oh my God, you’re adorable!” Chat blurted out. He caught himself and turned tomato red, then stuttered, “Umm! S-sorry, I––”

Ladybug (Lady...turtle??) giggled, stepping forward to stand beside him once again. “Thanks,” she replied shyly, reaching up to tuck some hair behind her ear as she usually did when she was nervous, but her hand bumped into her suit’s hood instead. Not quite sure what to do with her hands, she folded them in front of her as she awaited further instruction.

Tikki flew in front of Master Fu, bowing her head in greeting. “It’s good to see you again, Master!”

“Likewise. I hope you are doing well,” he greeted back.

Tikki flew over to Chat Noir, to say hello to him as well. “Hello, Chat Noir! It’s nice to formally meet you,” she chirped happily.

Chat beamed and answered, “Tikki, right? It’s great to finally meet you too! I must admit, you look a little different than I thought you would.”

Tikki giggled. “Did you think I’d be more insect-like? Maybe with six legs and an exoskeleton?”

Chat shrugged timidly. “Well, I mean… Maybe…?” ‘Ladybug’ and Tikki looked at each other and snickered at his reply.

Fu smiled at their interactions fondly, recalling times spent with loved ones, allies no longer here. With a small grunt, he stood up to continue the protection ritual.

“This way, Ladybug. Chat Noir and Tikki, please stand over there; we’ll need a bit of space for this. You might feel a bit tired once this is finished, so be sure to get plenty of rest tonight,” he instructed.

Tikki perched on Chat’s shoulder as he moved towards the edge of the room. They spoke in hushed voices as Fu instructed Ladybug and had her repeat phrases from his notes.

While they waited, Chat turned to Tikki and whispered, “By the way, I wanted to thank you... for helping Ladybug and keeping safe all these years. She means a lot to me.”

If kwamis could blush, Chat was sure that’s what Tikki’s face showed at the moment. “It’s been a pleasure to be her kwami. She’s the best! I’m glad you’ve gotten to know her and see what a sweet person she is.”

Chat smiled, cheeks dusted pink. “I am too.”

------

Many minutes passed, and Ladybug and Fu finished casting the protection ward. Chat helped Fu gather his things as Ladybug excused herself to transform back to her regular hero self.

As she re-emerged from the bathroom, Chat handed her a glass of water and invited her to sit on the bed so she could catch her breath and gather back some of her energy. “Welcome back, Lily-bug,” he greeted her with a wink. Ladybug beamed at him, accepting the water and taking a seat next to him.

Fu stood beside them, having finished gathering his belongings in a satchel. As he gave Ladybug time to rest, he asked, “Do either of you have any questions about the protection ritual, or about anything else?”

Ladybug replied, “I actually do have some questions, sir.”

Fu nodded.

“Master... why did Hawkmoth attempt to akumatize Chat Noir last night? If he’s tried it before, why did he not succeed during other nights?” Ladybug’s questions came faster once she got started. “Since he tried to akumatized Chat, does that mean he knows where he lives now? Is Chat even safe here anymore? What about the Dupains? Are they gonna be okay? How much does Hawkmoth know?”

Chat looked at Fu expectantly, realizing that he, too, had those same questions.

Fu replied, “The owner of the butterfly miraculous sends out his butterflies in search of a specific strong emotion, but is not aware of their location until after the host accepts it. He is able to learn some vague details about why they are feeling that certain emotion. My guess is that he was able to locate him while he was having a nightmare. So, no. He does not know that Chat Noir lives here. His powers have limitations, just like you do with yours. He is more powerful since he is older and more experienced, but even he can’t overextend the capabilities of his miraculous.”

He paused, stroking his beard, and contemplated. Then he asked, “Did something happen last night to make your emotions different from what they normally are?”

Ladybug and Chat Noir looked at each other, blushing furiously, stammering as they attempted to answer without divulging too much unnecessary information.

Fu raised an eyebrow, then chuckled knowingly, raising his hands to stop them. “It’s okay, I don’t need to know the details.”

“Umm! I-it’s not what you think!”

“M-master, don’t misunderstand–”

“Y-you see–”

“What happened was…”

“My guess is–” Fu interrupted, “–That Hawkmoth sensed your great joy last night, and became enraged. He couldn’t stand the thought of you being happy because it would mean that he is in the wrong, and his pride won’t allow him to accept that.”

Chat and Ladybug fell silent, looking downcast, as the explanation both made sense yet was immensely disheartening.

“There’s something else, Master,” Ladybug spoke again. “Something happened at school today. Akumas, but they vanished without a trace. I mentioned it to you earlier today over the phone. Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

“Ah, yes. And all that remained was two white feathers?” Fu asked.

“That’s right. Could the akumas still be out there because they haven’t been purified?”

Fu shook his head. “Allow me to explain. Firstly, as Ladybug already knows, two of the miraculouses in my box went missing when the temple of the guardians was destroyed: the butterfly and the peacock. One of them fell into Hawkmoth’s hands sometime within the last few years. But after hearing about what happened at the school today, we can now confirm that Hawkmoth is currently in possession of not just one, but of both of them. Either that, or he has someone else working under him.”

“The Peacock… of course!” Ladybug gasped, voice filled with dread.

Chat looked at her, then back at Fu, waiting for him to elaborate.

“The Guardian’s Grimoire calls them ‘sentimonsters’, mystical beings created out of thin air using the peacock miraculous, which harnesses the power of emotions. They can be created and destroyed whenever the wielder desires. Usually they are simple creatures, designed to be helpers or perform smaller tasks. However, they can also be more sophisticated, even indistinguishable from other humans, although an enormous amount of energy is required to create these complex sentimonsters. One can even ‘borrow’ the appearance of an already existing person. In this case, Hawkmoth chose not to give the sentimonsters the ability to speak, so they couldn’t divulge their secrets, in the event that they were caught.”

Ladybug shuddered. “What the hell?! That is so creepy.”

“Indeed.” Fu looked over at Chat, who had remained pensive throughout this exchange. “Any thoughts, Chat Noir?”

Chat looked up at him, trying to figure out how to phrase what he wanted to say. “I… I think I remember seeing the peacock miraculous in my father’s safe once. I only caught a glimpse of it; I just thought it was some of my mom’s jewelry he kept as a memento. I had no idea it was a miraculous. Otherwise, I would’ve had Plagg help me break into the safe and taken it with me when I ran away from home. There are so many things my father never told me… I’m sorry I don’t know more.”

Ladybug reached out to hold his hand, giving it a small squeeze, which he returned.

“You’ve done more than you know, believe me,” Fu replied as he unconsciously squeezed his satchel, which contained the electronic tablet where his copy of the Grimoire was stored.

He stuck his hand in his pocket and stepped forward, handing Chat Noir a card with his cell phone number.

“Call me if you have any questions, either of you. Even if it’s the middle of the night. Wayzz will make sure I hear my phone if it rings; he’s a much lighter sleeper than I am.”

“Thank you, Master Fu,” replied Chat, smiling. “And thank you too, Wayzz.”

“Thanks, Wayzz. Thank you, Master.” said Ladybug.

“Also, I must remind you once again that your identities must remain a secret until things settle down. There are negative effects that could happen if you are revealed too soon, and I’m not sure what they could be; but it’s best not to find out.”

Ladybug frowned. “But when will that be, Master? It would be so much easier to be able to communicate without having to transform.”

Fu shrugged helplessly. “I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for that. We must allow things to continue to develop on their own. I'm sure we’ll know when the time is right.”

Ladybug let out a displeased sigh. Chat nodded, glancing away with a worried look in his eyes. Despite Ladybug’s eagerness (and despite his own curiosity), waiting suited him just fine for now.

After saying their goodbyes, Fu left the pair behind and let himself out with a final wave. The two heroes remained in the bedroom, contemplating what had been discussed.

After sitting in silence for a few moments, unsure of what to say next, a lightbulb seemed to light up inside Ladybug’s brain, and she began typing away into her yo-yo communicator. Chat watched curiously, wondering what she was up to.

Moments later, she hopped out of the bed to jot something down onto a sticky note from Chat’s desk, then walked back.

“Just because we can’t tell each other who we are doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be able to contact each other when we’re not transformed. Kwamis aren’t pagers, after all.”

“Pagers? What decade is this, anyway?” Chat razzed.

“Hush, you,” she mock scolded him, suppressing a smile. “ Anyway! Here’s my brand new, Chat Noir-exclusive email address,” she said, handing him the note with a wink.

Chat’s eyes lit up. “Wait, really??” He unfolded the paper as if it was a Christmas present, excited to read the contents. His eyes widened and he burst out laughing.

“ ‘The_gr8_bugaboo@yoohoo.com’ ?!”

“What, you don't think I’m great?” she teased, striking an exaggerated, Chat Noir-style pose.

Chat’s snickering only intensified and he nodded. “Oh, for sure! The greatest!” he agreed.

Ladybug smirked. “I made it just now,” she explained. “So you’re the only one who knows about it. We may not be able to hang out in person yet, but I’d still like to talk to you during the day. Plus, it’ll come in handy for emergencies.”

“Buginette you’re a genius!”

Ladybug giggled, feeling her face warm up despite herself. “M-maybe we can message each other when you have some free time? I mean… now that you don’t have to worry about getting akumatized in your own room anymore. Your bedroom’s pretty much the safest place in Paris now, thanks to Master Fu.”

“And thanks to you, as well, my dear ‘Lily-bug’,” Chat reached up to take her hand, gently pulling her down to sit next to him. “I feel much better already. And knowing I can talk to you anytime makes me feel even safer.”

She scooted closer, setting her head down on his shoulder. “Y-you know… you make me feel safe too, Kitty.”

Chat’s insides twisted into pleasant little knots, suddenly feeling rather warm. “Really?”

He felt her smile as her hand squeezed his arm, her other one sneaking across their laps to wrap her fingers around his own. “Yeah. I know we’ve only been allies for a short time, but I’ve already lost count of all the times you’ve saved me or sacrificed yourself to help others. Our partnership grows stronger every day, and I think Hawkmoth knows it. He knows we’re stronger together. And it’s only a matter of time until we can be together without these masks too, I just know it.”

He turned towards her, putting his fingers under her chin and lifting her head to have her look up at him. Their eyes met, her pupils dilating as they focused on his own, and he could see a bright blush blooming on her cheeks.

“Me too,” he whispered, as he brought their lips together.

She blissfully melted into him, letting out a small noise of contentment. She deepened the kiss, reaching behind his head to caress his hair with her slender fingers. Their kisses and breaths mingled together and they lost track of everything else around them.

A little while later, they faintly heard the grandfather clock striking the hour in the living room, then some noises as the Dupains shuffled upstairs from the bakery to get ready for bed.

Ladybug pulled back and they separated, his lips still tingling from her touch.

“I… I should probably get going soon,” she lamented with a small shrug. “It’s starting to get late.”

“Would you like me to walk you home? Or rather, to somewhere around your neighborhood?”

She shook her head. “That’s not necessary. Besides, I’m closer than you might think,” she added a bit cryptically.

“I wish you could stay,” he said softly, reaching up to tuck some hair behind her ear. He gave her nose a tiny smooch. “Just a teeeeensy bit more?” he begged, giving her the best kitten eyes he could muster.

Ladybug giggled shyly, cheeks still dusted with pink. She gave his own nose a peck, her lips soft and inviting. “Well… I guess I could stay just a little bit longer,” she said with a smirk.

“Purr- fect,” he said, capturing her lips once again.

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

Note:

Many of the events in the “Volpina” and “Collector” episodes happened in this AU, albeit heavily modified to suit the story. Adrien found the grimoire in his father’s safe, took it out to study it, and Lila stole it. Since Adrien didn’t act impressed about Lila knowing Ladybug, she didn’t magnify the lie and claim to be Ladybug’s best friend; therefore, Ladybug never showed up to call her out on her lie, and Lila was never akumatized.

However, Tikki did see the book in the dumpster and retrieved it, and Marinette showed it to Master Fu. After Gabriel discovered the book was missing and pulled Adrien out of school, Fu made a copy so that Marinette could return it to Gabriel, and Adrien was allowed to attend school again. Currently, Adrien has no idea that this is how Fu acquired his grimoire; he merely assumes that Fu has always had his own copy.

Of course, Marinette began to suspect that Gabriel might be Hawkmoth because he owned the grimoire. Gabriel akumatized himself into the Collector in order to avoid suspicion, and with Chat’s help, almost succeeded in obtaining the ladybug miraculous. Ultimately, Ladybug outsmarted him, got him to accidentally “collect” Chat, and succeeded in purifying his akuma. But by then, Gabriel had “proven” he was an innocent civilian and Ladybug dismissed his potential involvement as Hawkmoth.

----

P.S.  Another note: Certain things that are similar but not identical to canon have been in my outline since the beginning, so I apologize if they're a little confusing (such as the protection talismans being similar to Ladybug's akuma victims' lucky charms or the destruction/disappearance of the Guardian Temple)

[sinner-as-saint]

‘Till We Bleed Out - 2.

Vampire!bucky x reader AU

Part 2 of this series. 

Run-through: Your car breaks down on a deserted road on a rainy night. You have no other option but to seek shelter from the nearest house you could find; the mansion, which happened to be the talk of the town for its mysteriousness along with its equally mysterious owner, Mr. Barnes. The universe can be tricky sometimes but the fact that you found yourself at that mansion’s doorstep at that time was no simple coincidence. That one night changes everything forever - quite literally. True love, past lives and creatures from folklore; turns out it’s all real. 

Themes throughout the series: vampire!bucky, fluff, smut, angst 

You woke up realizing that you had surprisingly fallen soundly asleep last night, after the strange dream about the handsome man; who was kind enough to let you take shelter from the storm in his home. 

Speaking of the storm, you got out of bed and walked over to the window, pulling the curtain aside. You noticed that the weather was even worse than last night. Heavy rain, and nonstop thunder. Although, it seemed like a very cozy day to just stay inside. You sigh with a soft smile on, perhaps you’d get to know more about Bucky today. 

You turned back around and noticed something you hadn’t last night. Roses on the nightstand, as red as blood and just as hauntingly beautiful. Your smile grew; there was something enchanting about red roses. A bunch of it looked like the embodiment of poetry and there was no other way you could explain it. 

You approached the flowers and inhaled their fresh scent. Oh how you loved them! How come you didn’t notice they were on the nightstand? Anyways, you walked into the bathroom and brushed, showered and were about to change into another pair of sweatpants when you noticed more clothes in the closets. A sundress caught your eye and you decided to wear it. It fit you perfectly. You twirled in front of the mirror, checking yourself out when Wanda walked into the room. 

“I see you’re up, Miss.” she smiled at you. And you noticed she had the same look in her eyes, like Bucky did. That of sadness, or helplessness. But you tried ignoring it. 

“Good morning.” You gave her your best smile and noticed how she took in your appearance. 

“You look lovely. Anyways, I came to let you know that breakfast is ready. Mr. Barnes is waiting for you downstairs in the dining room. Come down whenever you’re ready.”  

Wanda left and the brief mention of Bucky brought back the memories of last night’s dream. It was definitely weird that you had such an explicit dream about him, but the weirdest thing was that you were not feeling the slightest bit guilty about it. 

You took a deep breath and stepped out of the room. You made your way downstairs, leisurely. Taking in more of the décor and the paintings on the wall. These must have cost a fortune, you thought. 

You found Bucky in the dining room, sitting at one of the ends of the large table. You had to admit, even the furniture in this house seemed pricey. Bucky set the newspaper down upon seeing you. He let his eyes roam your frame quickly and his smile broadened. “You look lovely,” he commented. 

You smiled, just a little shy and whispered a ‘thank you’. As you took a seat on his left, he spoke again. “The storm intensified. Looks like you’re not going home today.” he said with a genuine smile. You began to oppose naturally but he insisted. “You’ll be safe here.” 

You agreed. You picked a few food items from the large trays and took a few bites while Bucky got back to his newspaper. The silence was comfortable, the two of you seemed perfectly alright with sharing the space without feeling the need to fill the void with any conversation. It felt like this was part of your routine almost. 

You sipped on coffee and discreetly lifted your eyes to look at Bucky. He munched on a piece of fruit while focusing on some article in the papers. His body language made him look like an older man; eating while reading his newspaper. But his face didn’t look a day over 35. The contrast made you giggle and that caught his attention. 

He turned to face you with a raised eyebrow. “Something funny, miss?” he sounded like he was teasing you, politely. 

You shook your head and set your cup down, and upon doing so you noticed the red roses in a vase in front of you, again. The sudden urge to ask a question took over you, “Your wife, did she like red roses?” 

“They were her favorite.” He seemed unfazed by your sudden curiosity. 

“What was she like?” you asked again and the smitten smile on his face gave away how much he loved her. Love like this was rare, and you felt just a little envious of the late woman. She was so lucky, you hoped she knew. 

“Like the answer to all my prayers. Beautiful. Every little thing about her was so, so beautiful. She was kind, smart and funny, and fierce. She made me a better man. She was delightful.” You noticed he looked you right in the eyes as he spoke. His answer gave away that he worshipped that woman. 

“I hope she knew how much you love her.” 

He gave you that soft smile again. “I made sure to remind her every single day.” 

-

You never knew rainy days could be so lovely. After breakfast Bucky offered to show you his library because of course he owned one. And you had the time of your life just walking around and running your fingers over some of your favorite books. 

You noticed red roses on the coffee table as well, by the couches in his study room/library. While reaching for a copy of Pride and Prejudice, your hand brushed with his and your whole body felt like it was electrified. You pulled away sheepishly, but he held it up to you and you took it with a smile, admiring the front cover. 

“Your favorite?” he asked. 

You nodded, excitedly. He let out a little laugh. “You can have this one. I have plenty of other copies.” 

You smiled so big your cheeks hurt. “Thank you, Buck.” you were so excited that you walked past him, hungry to explore the other side of his library - without realizing what you just called him. 

Meanwhile Bucky was both surprised and elated. Buck… no one called him that except for-

“What’s in there?” he heard your voice and turned around immediately. You were pointing at the partially hidden door at the end of the room. “That’s where you hide all your secrets?” you teased, using the same tone he did this morning. 

He laughed and nodded. “Yes, you caught me.” 

You two shared a laugh and then he insisted that you should see the piano room. You agreed and just as everything else in the house, the grand room was equally as breathtaking. White couches, brown pillows, plants, full of light even with the stormy weather and a large balcony adjoined to it. Perfect. 

“It’s beautiful,” you said as you admired the room. You could hear the heavy rain hitting the window panes, it was comforting. You noticed the well-maintained piano right by the door which led to the balcony, “Do you play?” you asked and he gave you a dramatic look which gave away that you had just bruised his ego. 

“Miss Y/N, how dare you question my skills?” He answered with a smile on, then proceeded to play the most melodic tune you had ever heard. You weren’t much of a musical person, but you knew a melancholic tune when you heard one. It was, as most things in this house, hauntingly beautiful. Even the music carried a sense of nostalgia, and homesickness. 

You closed your eyes for a moment, getting lost in the music which filled the room effortlessly. Familiar, very familiar. Then it hit you - this was the same song being played at that ball in your dream. You opened your eyes immediately, baffled at the weird coincidences taking place lately. 

You found yourself gravitating towards the bench, and eventually you sat beside Bucky. He looked at you for a brief moment, then resumed playing somewhat of a softer tune. You smiled at him and suddenly it all felt like a déjà-vu. Like you’ve lived this exact moment a hundred times before. Sitting next to him, your elbows brushing, him looking at you lovingly, yet with sad eyes. His cologne, the slight gray in his eyes, the weather - it felt like a forgotten dream was coming back to you. 

You had to find something to say otherwise you felt like you were about to lose your mind. “You said you worked all day everyday. So is today your day off?” you tried to lighten the mood. 

He let out a little laugh. “Like I said, I rarely get visitors. I’m just making the most out of your company.” 

He was drop dead gorgeous, and he could make your heart race with just a few simple words. A dangerous combination really. 

He kept playing as you walked around the room, taking in every little detail. This was the only room in the house which had white roses in the vase, instead of dark red ones. Well, the white ones matched the interior better here. Your gaze fell upon something interesting next. 

“Vinyl records?” that seemed to catch his undivided attention as he stopped playing and turned to you. 

“Oh yes. It was one of my… old hobbies.” He answered. 

You giggled. “You say old hobbies like you are over a hundred years old.” 

He chuckled and got up from the bench. He walked over to where the records were kept, picked one out and carefully placed it down on the record player. A soothing tune filled the room again. Much lighter and happier than the piano earlier. A stark contrast to the gloomy weather but it still, somehow, fit perfectly. 

Bucky extended his arm out in front of you, out of nowhere. “Dance with me.” 

You didn’t hesitate for a single and took his hand immediately. Bucky held you close; his hand at your waist pressing your body to his gently. His other hand held yours delicately. Your arm placed over his shoulder as you stared into his deep, piercing eyes. And just like that, you two swayed slowly to the sweet, slow music. Effortlessly, gracefully and without any awkwardness or hesitation. Almost like you’ve danced a thousand times before. 

You giggled as he twirled you around and pulled you closer almost immediately. And when you looked back up into his eyes, it felt like a déjà-vu again. Only this time, you knew where you had experienced something similar to this - in your dream last night. The ballroom, the gown, the way you danced. Just like this. 

Your body tensed up and you weren’t blinking, Bucky caught the change in your behavior. “Don’t think about it.” he murmured. 

“About what?” you used a much softer tone as well. You and him were so close you could whisper and you were sure he would hear you perfectly. 

“Whatever it is you’re thinking about.” He spoke as he swayed you gently. “You’re here, with me. I don’t want you to think about anything else.” It sounded more like a plea than a request. There was something else he was trying to say; inexplicable, hidden in between the lines. Somehow you caught it. 

You nodded. “I’m here.” You spoke without paying much attention to what you were saying or doing. “With you.” All that mattered in the world right now was that you were in his embrace. His ocean blue eyes were the only thing you could make sense of. 

You felt it then. The warmth, despite his cold hands. The sparks flying around, despite the dark and gloomy weather outside. He started leaning in and you met him halfway. 

His hand moved up to gently cup your face. His lips brushed against yours briefly as he paused and waited to see if you would pull away. Seeing you didn’t, he pressed his lips to yours. You shivered at how delicately he caressed your cheek with his thumb. Kissing him felt natural. Like a habit. His lips were soft and familiar. He tightened his grip around your waist, pulling you closer. 

Your hands instinctively slid into his hair, he moaned under his breath as you tugged on it gently.  Bucky tilted his head to the side and deepened the kiss, nibbling on your lips and gently stroking your lower lip with his tongue. You felt giddy and warm. And safe. 

He pulled away just a second before Wanda stepped into the room. “Dinner’s ready.” 

Bucky told her you two would be downstairs in a minute and you caught that look on her face. A look of pure joy and satisfaction. You didn’t understand why. 

When Wanda left, you faced Bucky again, now just a little nervous. “I.. I didn’t-,” 

He silenced you by gently holding your chin in between his fingers. “Shh sweetheart.” His gaze spoke volumes; he was perfectly alright with this kiss. “We should go downstairs.” 

Dinner was perfect. Lovely conversation, lovely wine, the same stormy weather outside but inside Bucky’s home; all was well. He told you that you were more than welcome to use his library if you wished to do some light reading before bed. You agreed. 

You grabbed a book and curled up on one of the couches and he did the same, sitting right across you. You found yourself re-reading the same sentence over and over again because you couldn’t focus. Not when you could physically feel his eyes on you. You even caught him staring a few times and giggled whenever he seemed flustered after being caught. 

There was ease between you two. And the next two hours went by comfortably. 

“It’s late, I should go to bed.” You spoke as you stood up. He did as well, and when you looked into his eyes you began wishing that this storm outside lasts forever. 

“Goodnight, sweetheart.” He whispered, leaning in and kissing you at the side of your mouth. 

“Goodnight.” 

-

You tossed and turned in bed. Somehow, falling asleep was a little harder today because you couldn’t help but think about how it felt when Bucky kissed you earlier. The sound of the harsh storm echoed inside the house, but it was still comforting. 

The loud roar of the thunder was the last thing you heard before drifting off to sleep; dreaming again, this time of red roses, blue eyes, balconies and paintings… 

Arms wrapped around you from behind, embracing you in a tight hug. “Do you like it, my love?” the silky smooth voice asked. You looked down and you smiled at the sight of the wedding band on his finger. 

“I love it.” You looked up at the frame hung on the wall. It was a painting of you and your husband, delivered to you that morning itself. “We’ll keep it here forever.” 

You heard a soft chuckle, then felt a pair of lips kissing your neck softly. “Even longer.” 

You turned around and came face to face with Bucky, with slightly longer hair, tied in a low, neat ponytail. Behind him was a very familiar door. You leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips. “We should get going, else we’ll be late.” 

The surroundings faded, and you were now inside a dimly lit ballroom. The grand chandelier was mesmerizing, but not more than your husband’s eyes. He was gorgeous, your man; even with half his face covered by the masquerade mask he was still perfectly able to take your breath away. 

He smirked, as though able to read your thoughts. He leaned in, and the rest of your surroundings was suddenly a blur. “Do you wish for us to go somewhere more private, sweetheart?” He whispered in your ear. 

You bit your lip and nodded, only then realizing that you were wearing a mask as well. Bucky smiled, tugging on your hand and dragging you along to wherever it is he was taking you. 

The room around you morphed again and you found yourself running up a staircase with Bucky, giggling and holding onto each other for dear life until you finally made it to the top. You found yourself on a balcony. 

“Where are we?” you asked. 

Bucky stepped closer, pushing you gently against the balustrade. “Home.” He leaned in and kissed you. His mouth moved against yours gently, passionately. His hands were on either side of your waist as he pressed you further into him. Your hands instinctively went to his neck as you gently pulled him closer.

As you closed your eyes and cherished his touch, an image of the painting from earlier flashed in front of your eyes. But you forgot it just as quickly as it came because Bucky’s touch took over all your senses. His hand slipped under your dress, and went right to your wet core. 

You giggled into the kiss as his knuckles brushed faintly against your core and you moaned at his touch. He cupped you in between the legs and the palm of his hand pressed against your throbbing clit. His mere touch was driving you insane. His lips left yours and he kissed his way to your neck; sharp teeth nipping at your skin. At the feel of it, your own canines sharpened out of nowhere. 

Surprisingly, it didn’t feel like it was the first time that it happened. You seemed comfortable with the sudden change. 

Bucky kissed all the spots which made you weak in the knees; he knew your body by heart it seemed. While he kissed your skin, his fingers moved slightly against your dripping core. You moaned, tugging on his hair just a little. 

“Be quiet for me, sweetheart.” he mumbled against your skin as he slipped two fingers past your folds. He curled his fingers inside you immediately, and stroked your walls gently. You moved your hips against his hand as you chased your orgasm. His thumb rubbed your swollen clit furiously as you bit your lip to keep you from moaning. 

“Buck…” you were breathless, each nerve ending on fire as pleasure washed over you. 

“Shh sweetheart,” he quickened his actions and slipped his fingers in and out of you incessantly until he felt your walls clench around him. “Cum for me,” he whispered. You moaned, biting your lower lip as you came all over his hand. 

Once you recovered, he pulled your dress up, making it bunch around your waist as he stepped in between your legs again; kissing you like his life depended on it. He undid his pants and hoisted you up his own body. You wrapped your legs around his waist quickly for better balance and he leaned the two of you against the balustrade once again. 

You felt his hard cock pressing against your skin as he kissed you hungrily. His hand dipped in between the two of you and he guided the tip of his erected cock over to your dripping entrance. The brief friction caused you to moan into his mouth. 

“Be quiet for me, yes?” he spoke against your lips, almost as breathless as you were. You nodded frantically. And with that, he pushed himself inside you quickly. You felt all of him once he was completely buried in you. His cock twitched inside you and you bit your lip to prevent a moan from escaping your lips.

He held your hips, and your hands gripped his shoulders desperately as you tried to keep your voice down. You pushed your face into the crook of his neck, nibbling on his skin with your sharp fangs as he rocked in and out of you. You moaned quietly against his skin as his throbbing cock sped up into you. He pounded into you relentlessly, earning more and more moans and gasps out of you. 

He growled when he felt you clench around him. “Bucky…” you moaned and he immediately placed his lips on yours to stop you from making more noise. He loved how you lost control under his touch. He loved the sound of his name leaving your lips. 

“Shh, sweetheart. Quiet,” he mumbled against your lips as he felt your walls milking him perfectly. “We can’t get caught fucking in our own balcony while we were supposed to be hosting a party downstairs.” He ended with a chuckle. 

You whined. “Well if you weren’t so insatiable,” you teased. He scoffed, holding you at the curve of your ass, hands under your dress as he occasionally squeezed your butt cheeks, making you giggle and moan at the same time. 

“Says the one who lures me in like a seductress every moment of every day,” he sassed back. He slammed into you relentlessly while you tried your hardest to not to scream out loud. You felt a pressure building between your hips, and it seemed like he felt it as well because he dipped his head into the crook of your neck and swore under his breath as he sped up again. 

Your thoughts became cloudy, and all that you could focus on in that moment was the force of his thrust. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head as you found yourself unable to form proper thoughts. Your clit rubbed against his pelvic bone each time he filled you up.

Your body moved along with his like a rag doll as you could no longer keep up with his thrust. Soon, you felt the warmth taking over. And a familiar tingle went down your spine as your walls clenched around him. You gushed out all over his cock with a loud moan… 

 You woke up gasping, shocked that you had dreamt such explicit dreams two nights in a row now. You looked around and realized that it was still night time. You could still replay the dream in your head like a vivid memory. You closed your eyes and took deep breaths. 

The painting. 

The painting seemed so real, so detailed. You wondered if- 

Wait, that door you dreamt of. You’ve seen it before, haven’t you? Large, dark wood with beautifully detailed carvings on it, golden doorknob… 

You gasped again. It was the door in the library. Your heart raced. Could it be… ? 

You didn’t think twice before getting out of bed, grabbing the robe Wanda had left you earlier you stepped out of the room. Your breaths got shallower and shallower as you reached the library. 

It could very well be just a weird dream, right? You jumped at the sound of the thunder, and realized that you were already inside the library. You stared at the door. This was the exact one you dreamt of. 

Fuck it. You walked towards it, blocking out any thoughts which told you to turn back around and get back in bed. You twisted the doorknob and it was unlocked. You pushed the door open, stepping inside you found a secret room. About the same size of the library, or maybe slightly more spacious. 

It looked like a more modern and luxurious version of a drawing room. With the usual, couches, carpets and… and paintings. For a moment you almost didn’t want to find it. You didn’t want to find that painting of you and Bucky; which you had just dreamt of because if or when you do, what then? 

You looked around, the light from the two chandeliers illuminating the room just right. There were regular paintings one would find in an expensive mansion like this one; views of countryside, mountains, rivers. There were some paintings of people you couldn’t recognize but you knew, deep inside, that they seemed familiar. 

You almost let out a sigh of relief when you didn’t find the painting from your dream. 

Almost. 

But then you saw it. The largest frame in the room. Right above the golden fireplace, mounted on the wall perfectly straight and right in the center of the room. 

It was the painting you dreamt of. The one of you and Bucky. 

“What the hell?” you whispered as you approached the fireplace, craning your head up to look at the oddly familiar painting. 

You two seemed so happy. You were in a rose gold gown, and Bucky was well-dressed in navy blue. A lovely moment in time, captured in a beautiful painting. You weren’t quite sure what to think as you looked at yourself in the painting. 

Your eyes instinctively trailed down to the bottom on the frame. And in cursive black painted were written the words which gave you goosebumps: ‘Mr. & Mrs. Barnes. 1872.’ 

“What the hell?” you repeated. 

This time you heard a voice speak up, from behind you. “You should be in bed, sweetheart.” He said softly. 

You turned around and found Bucky leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed and a look on his face which you couldn’t quite decipher. You turned to look back at the painting, and then back at him again. He hadn’t aged since 1872 it seemed. 

Your heart raced again. 

It couldn’t be… could it? 

[mercurygguk]

bleeding for you | jjk

genre; angst, fluff

pairing; EMT!jungkook x female reader

✎ summary; In which it’s just another quiet night at the fire station until there’s an alarmingly serious car accident not far away. Jungkook is the first on the scene along with his partner, Namjoon. What meets Jungkook at the scene of the accident is worse than anything he could ever imagine.

word count; 3,367

based on a request by anon; It's a Jungkook au, where he's a EMT & they get a call for a very serious accident. When he arrives on scene he sees a very familiar car. A hand dangles from the shattered window, the engagement ring he'd slipped on your finger not two months ago mocking him. I envision a happy ending, but if you want, do with it what you will.

warnings; Descriptions of car accidents, mentions of bruises and blood, jungkook’s crying a whole lot, i’m sorry if this is tough on your heart bc it definitely was on mine, phew

a/n; I LOVED THIS IDEA FROM ANON, SO THANK YOU ANON and let’s be honest here, paramedic/EMT!jungkook is lowkey hotttt. Also, I took some inspiration from the tv-show Chicago Fire and some from Grey’s Anatomy because those are the only shows I’ve actually watched with things related to this kind of scenario, lol. I hope you like it, enjoy!

ps. it’s heavily unedited and i wrote this rather quickly, so please ignore if you spot anything hehe

The clock ticks on the wall and there are sounds of cars passing by once in a while outside on the street. Jungkook is staring silently at the TV in the staff room, his eyes focused on the ball that moves around between the football players. He’s bored, sighing deeply to himself as he drops his head back against the back of the couch he’s currently slouching on. Namjoon, Jungkook’s partner, plops down beside him, a sandwich on a plate for him to eat for dinner. He looks happily at his sandwich, more than excited to bite into it and finally getting a chance to continue reading his book for once.

Jungkook hates quiet nights at the firestation. He despises them. It makes him think of all the other things he could be doing instead – an example being at home, in bed with you; his fiancé. A title you recently had gained after Jungkook finally got the courage to get down on one knee for you, asking you to be his for the rest of his life. Just the thought of the happiness he felt that night made butterflies erupt in his stomach, suddenly daydreaming about your smile and the way you always manage to make him feel like he’s floating on a pink cloud. He’s totally whipped, but only for you.

His daydream is quickly interrupted by the sound of Namjoon chewing his sandwich loudly, making Jungkook glare at him with disgust. Namjoon, the charming person that he is, looks back at Jungkook in confusion.

“What?” Namjoon blurts with his mouth filled with a bite of his disgusting sandwich. Jungkook shakes his head at him, turning back to the boring game that’s unfolding on the TV. He really hates quiet nights. 

After half an hour and still nothing, Jungkook groans and gets up from the couch to wander around, causing Namjoon to look at him again with tired eyes. “What’s going on, Jeon?” He asks, flipping a page in his psychology novel.

“Nothing’s going on,” Jungkook grumbles, tired of just sitting around, “absolutely nothing.” 

Namjoon is about to tell Jungkook to sit down and relax for once but the alarm beats him to it, sounding loudly throughout the entire fire station. “Squad 3, truck 81 and 82, ambo 65, 78 and 32 – bigger car crash on the 5th highway, multiple victims,” Taehyung from the alarm center's voice booms throughout the fire station’s rooms. Jungkook’s eyes widen and so do Namjoon’s. They’re quick to move, book, sandwich and football match long forgotten as they run to their unit. Jungkook jumps in the driver’s seat, buckling up faster than ever. His partner is fast to join him and buckling up as Jungkook speeds out of the garage at the fire station and onto the road. Jungkook’s focused, eyebrow knitted together in concentration and the urge to do what he does the best – save some lives.

The highway is chaotic once Jungkook and Namjoon arrive as the first ones at the scene, multiple cars lying around – on the hood, on the side and some crushed to the point of where it’s not even a car anymore. It looks worse than anything they have ever experienced and it’s slightly terrifying but they’re headstrong as they grab their medical bags and run off to a random car each. Squad 3 and the firetrucks pull up not long after Jungkook and Namjoon’s arrival, all of them getting out quickly and getting to work, trying to see if they can save all victims or just the majority of them.

The first car Jungkook reaches is empty, the driver of it luckily managed to get himself out before any sort of rescue arrived. He seems fine, his car almost not even scratched. “Sir, are you alright?” Jungkook asks, doing his job in making sure the man is alright before continuing to another car. The man nods, waving a hand at Jungkook.

“Please go see some of the others, I’m fine!” He almost sobs, clearly traumatized by the car accident.

Jungkook nods at that, giving him one last look all over before heading on to the next car. He looks around in his haste to get to the next one, stopping abruptly in his tracks as he spots a familiar looking car. It can’t be, he thinks to himself as he turns to look at the car properly. His chest tightens at the thought, feeling himself hastily moving closer to the car as tears begin to form in his eyes. It doesn’t occur to him until a hand dangling from the window catches his attention as he gets closer, the diamond ring confirming his worst fear.

“No, no, no!” Jungkook shouts in a mix of terror, anger and his heart breaking into a million pieces, tears already falling from his eyes as he runs up to the car, his hands trembling. Pain shoots through him at the sight of you, body limp and unconscious, face battered in bruises and wounds and there’s blood on your beautiful, white shirt and he prays to God that isn’t yours but who is he even trying to fool? Of course, it’s yours. “No, please, no!”

From the other side of the highway, Namjoon spots Jungkook scrambling towards the car that he, too, finds awfully familiar. His eyes widen at the sight as realisation hits him. 

“Shit!” He hisses, making sure the victim he’s treating is okay before running towards Jungkook, heart beating a hundred miles per hour. All he can think about is getting his partner away from the car which is lying on its side. “Kook!”

Namjoon has to pull harder than he expected as he reaches Jungkook. He isn’t willing to let go of the car, hands reaching for your unconscious body that is still, thankfully, buckled up in the driver’s seat. You hear nothing of Jungkook’s cries as he’s pulled away by his partner and best friend. “____! Baby, please wake up, please!”

The sight in front of them is nothing but a real life nightmare, the scene only a fear of Jungkook’s until tonight. Namjoon has no idea how to calm his partner down as he pulls him away. His heart is breaking at the sound of Jungkook’s sobs, his chest heaving for air as he looks at the broken car, which was nicely parked in the parking lot of his and yours apartment building when he left for work this morning. He watches it being pulled apart to reach you, the EMTs of Ambo 78 tending to your wounds and body, trying their best to support you until they get you to the hospital.

They lift you into the ambulance, Jungkook’s body working automatically as he tries to jump into the back of the ambulance and ride with you to make sure that they’re taking care of you the right way. This isn’t just another victim, it’s you, Jeon Jungkook’s fiancé. Namjoon holds him back, using all his strength because a sad, terrified Jungkook is stronger than he ever could’ve imagined.

“Hyung, please, I need to go with her!” Jungkook cries, glancing quickly at the man holding him back, before looking back at the ambulance you’re now in. They close the doors, hurriedly getting in the front and speed off. “For fuck’s sake, Namjoon, let me go!”

Namjoon shakes his head, “I need you to calm down first, Kook. You’re not thinking clearly.”

Jungkook thinks that’s the biggest load of bullshit he’s ever heard. He whirls around, not in the mood for his best friend’s psychology shit. “I swear, I will punch you,” he sneers, eyes watery and cheeks stricken with tears. Namjoon stares back at him, lips in a tight line and eyes wide because he has never seen Jungkook so out of it before. “How am I supposed to calm down when my fucking fiancé is a victim of one of the biggest car crashes we’ve ever witnessed, huh? She’s hurt and unconscious in the back of one of OUR ambulances right now, Joon. Don’t fucking tell me to calm down.”

Despite his harsh words, Namjoon feels sorry for Jungkook. He nods, putting his hands up in surrender. Jungkook breathes out, chest heavy with a feeling he can’t quite describe. He just knows that he doesn’t want to waste another second here, the only place he wants to be is by your side until you wake up and tell him you’re okay.

“At least let me drive you to the hospital?” Namjoon offers, voice hesitant and cautious as he gestures to their ambulance. 

Jungkook sniffs, nodding, “please.”

The ride to the hospital is quiet, tense too. Jungkook is staring straight ahead and not moving, just letting the tears in his eyes fall until he has none left. He’s pretty sure the drive to the hospital usually isn't this long. He feels like he’s been on this ride with Namjoon for hours when really, it has only been at least 15 minutes. 15 minutes too long, he thinks to himself. He could’ve been with you right now, holding your hand while you get sutured up and stitched back to perfection – at least what Jungkook thinks is perfection. However, you’d never agree on that.

Namjoon doesn’t get to say anything before Jungkook’s out of the passenger seat of the ambulance, his body moving almost before Namjoon had parked it. He doesn’t notice anything around him, heading straight for the front desk to ask about your status. The nurse there looks at him with a face that says she’s sorry without even saying the words. Jungkook doesn’t need those words, there’s nothing to be sorry for. People only say they’re sorry when something really bad happens, and as far as Jungkook knows, you’re still alive. You have to be. He hasn’t married you yet.

“My fiancé was brought here not long ago, her name is ____,” Jungkook hurriedly asks, the nurse working quickly to type into her computer. Jungkook taps his foot against the floor in impatience.

“She’s in surgery at the moment,” the nurse says softly, watching as Jungkook’s breath hitches in his throat at the news. Namjoon comes up beside him, laying a hand on his shoulder. “The doctors will find you once they’re done.”

Namjoon nods in appreciation to the nurse, Jungkook stares at nothing in particular, scared he’ll break down in the middle of the entrance of the hospital he so often visits because of his job. “We’ll wait over there,” he tells the nurse, tugging Jungkook along. “Let’s go, Kook.”

Jungkook follows along, sitting down in a seat with Namjoon beside him. He feels like he should be calling his family and yours, yet he can’t think straight and his head is empty for words right now. The only thing on his mind is you and the fact that you’re at risk of dying. He has no idea how serious your injuries are but they’re serious enough to land you on the surgery table. His breathing is short, eyes staring at the floor and ears focusing on the sound of the opening and closing of the doors to the surgery halls. He feels alone even though Namjoon is sitting right beside him, he feels helpless, he feels like he’s been left in the dark. He knows nothing about what’s happening to you and it’s driving him absolutely crazy. The thought of losing you brings a new round of tears to his eyes, lips trembling as he fights to keep his sobs inside and not break down in the middle of other people. It’s like Namjoon senses as he gets up, pulling his phone from his pocket. He moves a bit away from Jungkook, speed dialling the only person he knows will be able to comfort his best friend in the slightest. 

Jungkook’s wandering the waiting area, hands tightly intertwined in front of his lips and eyes closed as he walks back and forth in front of Namjoon. It has been at least three hours and his nerves aren’t exactly becoming less the longer it takes for the surgeons to give him some kind of news – any kind would be appreciated by now. He stills as a hand comes to rest against his back, gentle touch that can only belong to one person on this planet. He turns around to face her, her eyes softening at the sight of his red eyes and wet eyelashes.

“Mom,” he croaks out, a sob raking through his body as he crumbles into her embrace.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she coos, wrapping her arms around his tall frame, hugging her sweet, heartbroken son to her chest in the hopes of comforting him just the tiniest bit. They stay like that for a few minutes until Jungkook’s mother breaks the embrace, holding him at arm's length. “I’m sure she will be fine, Jungkook. She’s a strong woman.”

He sniffles, feeling slightly better at his mother’s words. He offers a small, the tiniest, smile. She smiles softly and comfortingly at him, reaching up to wipe his tears away. “You have to be strong too, sweetheart. She needs you to be strong for her.”

Jungkook nods and whispers lowly: “I know, mom.”

“Mr. Jeon?” A voice calls. Jungkook, his mother, and Namjoon whips around to face the doctor who called Jungkook’s name. “Miss ____ is out of surgery. We were able to fix her injuries and she is up for recovery now.”

Jungkook lets out a sigh of relief, feeling a heavy weight disappearing from his shoulders. The doctor offers him a warm smile. “She will be in the ICU for at least a couple of days until we see some progress. You can go see her, she is in room 248.”

“Thank you so much,” Jungkook says with the utmost gratitude and a smile as he shakes the doctor’s hand before grabbing his things and heading in the direction of the ICU. 

He finds the room without any problems, pausing just outside of the door. His mother and Namjoon both stand behind him, watching him in silence. They’re not pushing him, letting him do this on his own, letting him prepare for whatever he’s about to meet behind this door. He inhales and holds his breath before pushing the door open and heading inside. The sound of the monitor beeping is the first thing that meets him, what meets him next causes him to gasp softly in horror. This must be what it feels like to live out your nightmare and biggest fears, he thinks to himself as he moves closer to your body that’s lying unconsciously on the bed. It seems his tears are never-ending today as he pulls a seat to the side of the bed, sitting down with his eyes trained on you.

He looks you over, wincing lightly at the sight of tubes and IVs attached to you. There are scratches and wounds on your body, your skin beaten up from the harsh car crash you so unluckily ended up in earlier. He’s hesitant as he reaches for your hand, being more than careful as he intertwines his hand with yours. You don’t squeeze his hand like you always do and it makes him realize that you are in fact unconscious and probably not aware of the entire situation right now.

Jungkook scans your face, lips trembling and fingers shaking as he reaches up to move your hair out of your face. There’s scratches on your pretty face too, a big patch on the right side of your forehead where they stitched you up. He’s hurting, not quite as much as you, as he looks at you. You’re still gorgeous, even like this. 

“I love you so much, ____,” Jungkook whispers, bringing your hand up to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to your ring-clad hand. “Please be okay.”

Days have passed since the accident, and you still haven’t opened your eyes. Jungkook is becoming impatient, sitting here and waiting is killing him slowly. His mother had left in the morning after being with him throughout the first night. Jungkook had called your family while his mother held his hand. He will never forget the way a sob raked through your mother’s body as he told her what had happened. They were here now; your mother, your father and your brother, Yoongi. Your parents sit on either side of you, Jungkook’s resting against the wall at the end of the bed, Yoongi sitting in the chair beside him. The silence is almost unbearable but no one dares speaking, afraid of nothing in particular – perhaps the chances of you crashing right in front of all of them.

Jungkook’s done crying. He doesn’t think he has any tears left in him, only this heavy feeling of regret even though he has nothing to regret. No matter what, he couldn’t have stopped this from happening. Why you were out driving that late is still a mystery to him, but he’s not sure he wants to know. He has a feeling it will tear him apart knowing the reason.

Your dad jerks up from his resting posture causing everyone to widen their eyes at him. “S-she squeezed my hand,” he almost whispers. Jungkook’s breathing quickens, eyes staring at your closed ones. He waits, anticipating the worst. Your eyes flutter, a small crease forming in your forehead as you try to adjust to the lights in the room. He sighs in relief for what feels like the hundredth time, feeling the tears coming back. Okay, he isn’t quite done yet.

“Jungkook?!” You croak out, trying to sit up. Jungkook feels his heart breaking at the tone in your voice. You sound confused, slightly shaken up and sad. He’s quick to be at your side, taking over from your father. His hand grabs yours, fingers intertwining automatically. “Kook,” you whimper, clearly not fully awake from your deep days long slumber.

“I’m here, baby” he softly calls, searching your eyes with his own, “I’m right here.”

You look at him, eyes locking and you feel yourself calm down already. Jungkook notices the unshed tears in your hazy eyes. “Where am I?” You ask, voice small.

“The hospital,” he explains, keeping his voice low and soft for you as you just woke up from a long, long nap. “You were in an accident, ____. Do you remember what happened?”

You shake your head, wincing at the movement. Your entire body is sore, hurting everywhere and you want to cry. You just want to cry and hug Jungkook tightly because that’s the only place you feel safe and happy, in his arms. 

“How long?” You speak a bit louder now, still not registering your entire family standing around the two of you. You’re in your own little world, your focus only aimed at the curly-haired man in front of you. Your mom is watching you closely, letting a small tear slip down her cheek as she takes in the moment of you and Jungkook. Your father is right beside her, rubbing her arms in comfort. Yoongi is watching too, smiling to himself because he doesn’t think his younger sister could’ve found anyone more fit for her than Jeon Jungkook.

“Only a few days,” Jungkook answers, bringing your intertwined hands to his chest. His heart is beating hard and fast causing you to gasp. He smiles at you as you look up at him, eyes wide.

You move to press your other hand to his chest, resting it above his heart. “Are you okay?”

Jungkook can’t help but chuckle. Even when you’re the one hurting, you ask him if he’s okay just because his heart is beating a bit faster than it usually does. He nods, smiling softly at you, eyes twinkling with fresh tears once again. 

“I’m fine,” he whispers, leaning closer to press his lips to your forehead in a lingering kiss. “Just really relieved.”

You smile at his words, only imagining how worried he must’ve been the past few days if you’ve been in this bed and unconscious. “I love you, Kook.”

Jungkook chokes out a laugh, “I love you too baby, more than anything.”

[drabbles-mc]

Tempting Offer

EZ Reyes x OFC (Aanya Reyes)

Request by @garbinge: Ok and 43 with whoever your heart desires as well cause I’m a sucker for a good ol true love trope (from This List)

Warnings: so much fluff

Word Count: 3.3k

A/N: I’m still not out of my writing slump. Still got a lot going on. But Anj sent me this request literal months ago and it’s been living in my brain ever since. Plus, I haven’t updated Remind Me in a hot minute so I figured doing a fluffy little prequel/spinoff would be a nice change of pace for a story that is so heavy with angst haha. I have a future chapter planned that actually references what happens in this story, so I’m excited to be able to share the real context for it all with you guys. Hope you enjoy! xo

EZ Reyes/Remind Me Taglist: @ly--canthrope @noz4a2 @queenbeered @sincerelyasomebody @sadeyesgf @thesandbeneathmytoes @appropriate-writers-name @tomhardydallasstarsgirl @kelpies-shed @louisianalady @gemini0410 @paintballkid711 @chibsytelford @yourwonkywriter @sesamepancakes @mayans-sauce @behindmyeyes-insidemyhead @plentyoffandoms @georgiaaintnopeach @twistnet @themoonandthewicked @bucky-iss-bae @enjoy-the-destruction @encounterthepast @everyhowlmarksthedead @rosieposie0624 @mylittlelonelyappreciationtoo @mijop @xladymacbethx @blessedboo @holl2712 @lakamaa12 @masterlistforimagines @kkim120 @toni9 @shadow-of-wonder @crowfootwrites @redpoodlern @punkgoddess-98 @black-repunzel99 @lexondeck @mrsstevenbuchananstark @berniesilvas @lovebishoplosamiguelgalindo @amorestevens @angelreyesisdaddy04​ @samcrobae​ @langiinspirations​ @bigcreatorwombatdreamer​ @lightblindingme​ 

She knew who was at the door before she’d even heard the knock. She laughed as she made her way through her apartment, trying to slide her earring into place as she did. Pausing in front of her door, she took a moment to take a deep breath and get herself mentally prepared. It wasn’t their first date, but she still had the jitters as though it was.

Undoing the chain on the apartment door, she pulled it open. EZ was standing on the other side, hands hooked onto his belt since he hadn’t worn his kutte this time. Without a second thought his eyes scanned her over, a smile immediately taking over his features the longer that he looked at her.

“You look beautiful,” he nodded.

She bit down on her lip for a moment, her face heating up at the compliment, “Thank you,” stepping back, she waved for him to come in, “You can come in, I just gotta grab my shoes and purse and I’ll be good to go.”

“Take your time,” he lingered close to the door, glancing around her apartment.

It was the first time he’d ever stepped inside. He’d picked her up and dropped her off the last few times they went out, but he never went past the threshold of her place. She didn’t necessarily offer, and he wasn’t going to push it if she wasn’t ready or comfortable. However, as he stood there and looked around her living room and into what he could see of the kitchen, it seemed exactly like the kind of place she would live. It also made him very nervous to ever have her over at his trailer. Her apartment felt so fresh, all warm colors and walls covered with bookshelves. The one big set of windows that she had, had a bench with a few plants on it that were coming along well for being in a small apartment.

“Alright,” she was pulling the back of her shoe over her heel as she half walked, half hopped towards him. Standing upright as she landed in front of him, she flashed him a smile, “I’m ready.”

“You sure?” he chuckled.

“Positive,” she motioned for him to open the door, both of them walking through before she turned to lock it behind them. As she followed him, tucking her keys into her purse, she asked, “So do I get to know where we’re going tonight? Or is it a big surprise?”

He smiled at her as they walked down the flight of stairs to the ground floor of her apartment building, “It’s not a big secret.”

“Are we taking the bike?”

He shook his head, “It’s within walking distance.”

“Ooo,” she smiled over at him, “now you’ve got my attention.”

As the two of them walked along the sidewalk, EZ listened with genuine interest as Aanya recounted her day to him. He reveled in her stories of new books that she’d gotten into, and strange customers that she’d encountered during her day. Although if EZ was being honest with himself, he would have sat there and listened to her read every page of the phone book and he still would’ve kept his interest. She had more love in her words than most people had in their entire bodies, and he was captivated.

He stopped outside the door to a small diner, smiling over at Aanya before pulling the door open for her, “Right this way.”

Her face lit up, “I haven’t been here yet!” she walked through the door and turned around to face him, “I always meant to come here and just never made the time.”

EZ nodded as the two of them walked and found a booth to sit in, “My pops is really good friends with the woman who owns the place—she’s been buying from him for years.”

“You know,” Aanya casually flipped through the menu, “I’ve been to your father’s shop plenty of times and I’ve never seen you there.”

The statement got him to look up from the menu, “You’ve been to the shop?”

She laughed, looking over at him, “Of course. Only butcher in town, Ezekiel.”

“He’s never mentioned that he sees you.”

“Something tells me your father isn’t one for gossip,” she laughed for a moment before she paused, “You talked to him about me?” her lips curled into a smile.

“Well,” he drummed his fingers on the tabletop as he bit back a shy smile, “yea. Of course.”

They’d long since finished their dinner, but the two of them were perfectly content to just sit at the table and talk. The waitress knew EZ well enough and she very casually brought over coffee for each of them when she saw how good of a time the two of them were having. It’d been a long time since she saw EZ bring anyone around, let along someone who had him smiling the way that he was.

“I just can’t believe,” Aanya laughed between sips of her coffee, “that I’ve already met your brother. I should’ve known! I should’ve known that was him.”

“Why would you have known?” EZ chuckled.

“Because he was at your father’s shop! And he had on, you know the,” she gestured vaguely to her shoulders and chest, “the vest.”

EZ smiled, “The kutte?”

“Yes!” she pointed at him and nodded, “The kutte.”

“I feel like maybe I should mention that not everyone in a Mayans kutte is a Reyes brother. Angel just so happens to be both.”

She chuckled, nodding, “I figured that much.”

“I think Pop would lose his mind if there were any more of us,” he smiled.

Aanya laughed, “I think Felipe is usually on the brink of losing his mind anyway.”

“Raising Angel will do that to you,” he replied without missing a beat, both of them laughing.

“I’m sure you weren’t a cakewalk either, Ezekiel.”

“Well what makes you say that?” he leaned back in the booth, feigning offense before giving in and laughing.

Shaking her head and taking a moment to finish her coffee, she replied, “Your very sweet and handsome smile doesn’t fool me, EZ. I’m sure you’re just as much of a troublemaker as your brother.”

“You think I’m handsome?” he smirked.

Laughing, she nodded, “Of course I do.”

The two of them walked back to Aanya’s apartment. Along the way she’d casually linked her arm with his, leaning against his side as they walked. EZ tried not to get too lost in the sensation of it, trying to focus on what she was saying to him. He was trying to focus but there was something so comfortable, so right, about the feeling of her leaning into him the way that she was.

They made their way up the stairs, and EZ leaned against the wall next to her door as he watched her slip the key into the lock. The smile on his face was practically a permanent feature whenever he was with her, and it had been a long time since someone made him feel that way.

“I had a really good time tonight, Ezekiel,” Aanya leaned against her doorframe with a smile.

He adored the way his name sounded coming from her. With a slight nod, he replied, “Me too.”

“I’ll give you a call tomorrow when I’m done with work?”

“Yea, yea that works,” he reached forward and gently slid his hand into hers, “Let me know if any of the new deliveries look any good.”

“I always think they look good,” she chuckled, “If you want a real critic’s opinion, you should come in and talk to Laura. It’s…it’s hard for me to find a book I don’t like.”

“If you want, I can bring you some pretty terrible books.”

Rolling her eyes, she laughed, “Tempting offer, but I’ll pass.”

“Alright, but you’re missing out.”

“I guess I’ll have to live the rest of my life knowing that,” she laughed, shaking her head. Looking up and meeting his gaze, her smile softened, “Thank you for tonight. Get home safe, okay?”

“Always do,” he smiled before lifting her hand up and pressing a light kiss to her knuckles, “Talk to you tomorrow.”

Standing up onto her toes, she placed a brief kiss on his cheek, “Goodnight, Ezekiel.”

“Goodnight,” he smiled as she walked through the door and closed it behind her. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself not to linger as he made his way back down the stairs, replaying the night over in his head with a smile.

The next morning, both EZ and Angel had shown up to the carnicería first thing to help Felipe with a large delivery. Angel had immediately gotten on his little brother’s case when he saw what a good mood he was in. EZ had always been the biggest morning person out of the three men, but even with that being true he still seemed peppier than usual. After a lot of questioning from Angel as they carried in one box after another, he caved and told them about his date from the night before.

Angel shook his head, wiping sweat from his brow, “No way. No way she’s real, bro. I just don’t buy it.”

“What do you mean you don’t buy it?” EZ laughed and shook his head, “She literally stops here all the time. She’s seen you here!” he gestured to the shop in its entirety.

“Really?” Angel seem perplexed, “She talk to me before?”

“I’m assuming not if you don’t remember.”

“Not everyone’s got a memory like yours, Boy Scout.”

“Nah, but you’d remember her.”

Angel rolled his eyes, mocking his brother, “You’d remember her. Jesus, EZ. Two dates with this girl and you’re already in love with her?”

“Four dates.”

“But who’s counting?” Angel smirked, “Look, I’m very happy for you and your very real girlfriend.”

EZ gave his brother a shove, but before it could descend into an all-out wrestling match, Felipe started ushering them both towards the door, “Go finish this somewhere that I don’t need to pay for everything you break.”

“Love you too, Pop,” Angel laughed as he let his father push them both out the door, the sign on it still saying that the shop was closed.

Despite the fact that they didn’t get to talk for their whole ride over to the clubhouse, as soon as they parked their bikes Angel was right back to giving EZ grief for the girlfriend he was convinced didn’t exist. EZ shook his head and laughed, taking the jokes and low-level verbal abuse in stride the way he always did. He knew that arguing past a certain point just made it all that much more fun for Angel.

By the time the afternoon rolled around, Angel had moved on from making fun of EZ and has started going in on Coco and Gilly. EZ couldn’t say that he was upset about his brother’s shift in attention. He did, however, find himself frequently checking his phone to see if she’d texted or called. It wasn’t often that she messaged him while she was working, but it didn’t hurt to check.

He was just about to slide the phone back into the pocket of his kutte when it started to vibrate. Glancing down at the screen, he smiled when he saw Aanya’s name lighting up the screen, “Hey.”

“Hey!” her voice was bright, happy, on the other end of the line, “I’m just getting ready to leave—they got someone else in to close up tonight.”

“Oh, nice. I’m, um, I’m still at the scrapyard,” his free hand gripped the edge of his kutte.

“That’s fine, I figured. I thought of you earlier, though, when I was going through the new shipment of books that came in.”

“Did you?” he scuffed the toe of his boot against the dirt.

“I did. There’s one in here that I think you’ll really like. Can I swing by and drop it off?”

“You don’t gotta drive all the way out here. I can swing by your place if you want.”

“It’s fine, really. Besides, I have all this extra time on my hands now,” she laughed.

“Alright,” he didn’t have it in him to tell her no, “If you don’t see me, the guy Chucky who works the front office can come and get me.”

“Perfect. Alright, I’ll see you in a little bit.”

He knew that telling Angel that she was coming was only going to make the situation worse. If there was no time for him to prepare comments beforehand, there was the possibility that EZ could just do a normal introduction. It helped that everyone was relatively busy with club business.

EZ was walking back down the steps of the clubhouse, about to head towards the front office when he saw Aanya walking next to Chucky. The two of them were talking and EZ couldn’t help but to take on her contagious smile. He couldn’t hear what the two of them were saying but Aanya looked thoroughly amused, and knowing Chucky he had to assume it was something good. When she locked eyes with him across the yard, EZ could see her thanking Chucky before turning and heading in his direction. EZ immediately spotted the book hanging from her hand as she walked up to him.

“He seems so fun,” she nodded back over her shoulder in Chucky’s direction.

“Yea,” EZ laughed, “he’s somethin’ alright.”

EZ was too busy looking at the woman in front of him to see that Angel had seen her come onto the yard, watching intently as she walked over to his brother. Angel saw as the woman laughed at something his brother said, and for a second he really couldn’t believe that EZ had been being honest with them this whole time. Angel really thought that his little brother had just been exaggerating to get him and the rest of the club off his back.

“Looks like you’ve been working hard,” Aanya smiled as she reached up, cupping one side of his face in her hand as she thumbed a streak of dirt off his cheek with her thumb.

He felt like his skin was on fire at the contact, but he tried not to let it show, “Just trying to stay busy.”

“That makes two of us,” she laughed, “I hope you don’t mind me just popping up like this. I don’t want to intrude on everything you’ve got here.”

“You’re not intruding. If anything, you’re a very welcome distraction,” he chuckled.

“At least I’m welcome,” she smiled.

“Always,” he couldn’t stop looking at her.

The two of them stood there for a few moments before Aanya cleared her throat, remembering why she’d shown up at the scrapyard in the first place. She held the book close to her chest for a moment before handing it over to EZ.

“Just came in today, so I haven’t read it. But I read the first chapter or so while it was slow this afternoon and it seemed like something you’d enjoy.”

“I’ll be sure to write up a full report when I’m done with it,” he smiled.

“Lucky for you, I grade papers as generously as I review books,” she laughed, resting her hand against his chest. Her fingertips traced along the stitching of the leather covering his torso. Looking at his prospect patch for a moment, she looked back up at him, “Kutte.”

He laughed, nodding, “You got it.”

“It’s my one new piece of information for the week.”

“That and all the first chapters of books you’re going to be reading for the rest of the week,” he gave her a knowing look.

“Like you wouldn’t do the same thing if you worked there,” she lightly patted his chest.

“Maybe,” he rested the hand that wasn’t holding the book over hers, completely enveloping it.

“I don’t know how late you need to be here tonight, but if you want to come over later, you can.”

He raised his eyebrows, surprised by the invitation, “Yea?”

She nodded, “Yea. If you have plans with your brother or something I totally understand. Just thought I’d mention it.”

“I’ll be there,” he didn’t have plans, but even if he did he would’ve dropped everything for her, “I’ll give you a call when I leave here in case you need anything.”

“Sounds good!” she felt her heart beating a little faster in her chest, “Alright. I’ll let you get back to work. I’ll see you tonight?”

He nodded, “See you tonight.”

He was expecting her to flash him a smile and a wink before turning and walking away. But, much to his surprise, she gently cupped both sides of his face in her hands and pulled him down into a kiss. It took him a moment to really register what was going on, but once he did, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. He could feel the way she smiled into their kiss and in that moment, he realized that there was nothing else in the world that he’d rather do. He’d drop damn near any and everything to be able to kiss her like that all the time.

She pulled away, hands still resting on the sides of his face. She smiled as she took in the slightly dazed look on his face. Tracing her thumbs along his cheeks, she gave him a soft peck on the lips, “Bye,” she let out a quiet laugh.

It was hard to get himself to force out the one-syllable word as he stared at her. He’d never been good at taking things slow, and as he stood there looking at her, seeing the way that she was practically glowing, he knew that he was very quickly falling in love with her. He wished he knew how to articulate the way that she made him feel, but instead he settled for getting his thoughts enough to say goodbye to her until he saw her again later.

He’d offered to walk her back to her car but she waved him off, insisting that she was fine and if nothing else Chucky would gladly escort her, which EZ knew was true. He watched her as she sauntered back towards her car and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. His fingers curled tighter around the book in his hands, pressing it against his chest.

The feeling of his phone vibrating in his pocket snapped him out of his daze. He reached into his kutte and pulled it out, sighing when he saw that Angel had sent a picture to the group chat with all the guys. Not knowing what to expect, he opened the message and saw a picture of himself and Aanya, one hand on his cheek while the other held the book. The next message was a text from Angel, one that made EZ shake his head, “Guess boy scout wasn’t lying after all. She’s real”

Before EZ could try to respond and come to his own defense, Gilly sent a message to the chat, “Still don’t buy it. I wasn’t there. Didn’t happen”

Knowing that it was just going to descend further into chaos, EZ decided he might as well play into it, “Alright. Guess you won’t care if I leave early to go and see my not real girlfriend then. See you guys tomorrow”

Angel called out to him from across the yard when he read the message, “Hey, hey. I don’t think I said all that!” Angel walked over to his brother, laughing the entire time, “Nah, nice to see she’s a real person.”

“Yea, that’s one of my favorite things about her,” EZ chuckled and shook his head, tucking the new book close to his chest.

[y0itsbri]

kinktober day 3 -- lingerie @gallavichthings

the devil in disguise

ian has a deep appreciation for mickey's halloween costume.

beta read by @mishervellous ❤️

words: 1.3k

"when you said you wanted to do a couples costume, i thought you meant with me!" ian rifled through his closet, trying to put together a last minute costume while mickey changed in the bathroom into his costume so he could coordinate with fucking tami. ian could have been an angel, but no, that simply wouldn't do.

to be fair, ian should have seen this coming after lip decided to put in an ungodly amount of extra hours at the shop. tamietti's went hard for halloween, and this year was not going to be an exception. he cursed lip for inadvertently stealing his husband away from him for the night.

this was impossible. ian banged his head against the wall.

"you die out there, firecrotch?" mickey called, voice strained.

ian was thoroughly confused with whatever elaborate feat was going on behind the closed door.

"no," he called, hopeless. he tried again, "you need any help in there?" ian reached for the knob only to find it locked. motherfucker.

"aye no peeking!"

"are you almost done? i need your help," ian sat back on their bed, sinking into their mattress and tapping his fingertips along this thigh.

he couldn't decipher all of mickey's mutterings through the wooden barrier, but the 'jesus fucking christ fucking gallagher' was unmissable.

ian grinned devilishly. he was always in the mood for a grumpy mick.

mickey unlocked the door with a click and stepped out in a red blur, discarding his old clothes on the floor in his corner of their room as if ian's world wasn't currently being absolutely rocked merely three feet away.

it took mickey a moment to realize that his normally chatty husband had yet to say a word. shit. maybe ian didn't like this kind of thing.

he bit the bullet and faced ian head on, only to meet a love-shook caricature of his husband -- wide eyes, blushing cheeks, and mouth agape, damn near salivating.

oh.

mickey smirked and flexed his arms not so subtly, "what d'ya think?"

ian unfroze from his trance, caught. he groaned and flopped back onto the bed, lifting his head and peeking at mickey between his fingers, "you're going to fucking kill me."

because there mickey was. clad in a fucking red, silk, corset cut just for his body. the red ribbons crossing in the front, carving his figure in all the right angles.

after a moment of deep appreciation and an unexpected awakening, ian allowed his eyes to scan the rest of mickey, which wasn't bearing any better for his blood pressure.

sheer, fingerless red gloves were stretched across mickey's hands, faded knuckle tattoos still visible. the glint of his ring seemed more prominent all of a sudden.

ian's eyes made their way up his arm, chest, neck. a sequined devil horn nestled into his dark hair and reflecting the low light of their bedroom lamp, giving mickey a literal red aura.

enjoying the show, mickey spun around, biting his lip. ian continued to ogle.

red fishnet stockings covered mickey's muscled thighs under almost-too-short-not-short-enough leather shorts embroidered with orange flames. pointed wings attached with some elaborate belting situation between his shoulder blades, and an arrow tail slinking around his hips.

"i think this is hell," ian closed his eyes, willing the blood to go back to his brain by the sheer power of force.

mickey chuckled darkly. "that so? ian gallagher on the naughty list?"

ian cracked an eye open, "what are you, fuckin' santa claus now?"

mickey smacked ian's stomach as he sat on the bed next to his idiot of a partner, "fuck off, ho."

"don't you mean ho ho ho?" ian couldn't resist.

"and we're done," mickey made to stand up but ian caught him by the arm, sliding his hand down until he reached the hem of the glove, inching his own fingertips underneath and sliding against his skin. his voice went deeper in the way that he knew made mickey melt.

"lemme make a deal with the devil?"

he tugged and pulled mickey onto his lap so that he was straddling him, knees digging into the soft mattress.

"what does the mere mortal have in mind?" mickey teased, voice light but eyes dark.

"kiss me and i won't tear your costume to shreds," ian ran his hand up mickey's back, catching on the wings clumsily before tracing his silk clad skin back down to his thighs. "you're looking hot as hell." the statement carried heat behind it.

mickey's breathing picked up as he considered the weight of his options.

ian grinned, trapped under mickey's control, but waiting patiently for the signal he knew he would be allowed.

a breath. two. three.

"c'mere," mickey leaned.

ian crashed his lips against mickey's own, his mouth a fire hot cinnamon. ian groaned. did mickey really have a mint for this? motherfucker thought of everything.

ian traced his hands over the mickey's chest as they kissed, following the lines of silky ribbon crossing back and forth. back and forth. lower. lower. lower.

the textures of silk and leather and skin mixing together under his hands, grasping at whatever he could reach.

mickey's weight pinned him to the mattress, helpless.

he felt fingers caressing his hair as his mouth felt warmer as they melted into each other.

what felt like an eternity in damnation later, mickey broke them apart. they took a moment to assess their equally disheveled appearances while fighting to catch their breath behind a laugh.

ian made a grab to pull mickey back in, certain he would comply, but mickey was quicker.

he rolled off with a grunt, tossing a half empty water bottle at ian's still body and nudging his leg when he didn't respond.

"you ready to go?"

"go where?" ian picked up the water bottle and idly traced its shape with his fingers.

a flick. "the party? tamietti's? your sister-in-law? ring any bells?"

ian sighed as he nestled further into their bed, "i still don't have a costume."

mickey waltzed towards their dresser, a slight unbalance in his step, and flung an old flannel on the bed.

"lumberjack. you've already got the scruff, thank you very much." he added quiety, grinning lopsidedly to himself. he was genuinely so proud he had convinced ian to abandon the clean cut army man look and to not shave for a few days to see what would happen and dear god was he enjoying the consequences.

ian finally sat up and chugged the rest of water bottle in one go before setting on their nightstand. it took a moment for mickey's words to register, but when they did -- yeah.

"you're a genius."

ian leaned up to grab mickey again, but he side stepped ian's attempts and straightened his outfit. "no sir, you gotta get changed. we need to leave like... ten minutes ago. tami's gonna have my ass if we're any later."

"tami better not go anywhere near that ass," ian grumbled, but complying with mickey's requests.

"don't worry, logger, you're the only wood for me."

"oh mickey, now that was bad."

mickey grinned as he shimmied in his satin outfit, smoothing over the wrinkles that ian had put there mere minutes before.

ian could easily stare at this image of mickey all night. as he was buttoning up his flannel, he made a mental note to buy mickey some more red.

"i think red is your color, mick." ian let slip, shoving his wallet in his pocket.

"yeah?" mickey grinned, "you too, stud," he ruffled ian's hair and pushed him out the door.