#but this one prof is pushing it so hard down our throat that it kinda makes me resent the poor man even if it's very unfair

[thewritingpossum]

the way i don't want to do that one paper on tolkien...

[babybluebex]

of pubs and profs [tom holland smut]

➽ pairing: prof!tom holland x fem!reader (y/n) ➽ word count: 4.7k ➽ summary: you have what you consider the best night of your life, but discover that it was with the worst person possible. ➽ warnings: NSFW/MDNI. smut, explicit language, fingering/oral (f recieving), unprotected sex (i am begging yall to wear a condom irl) ➽ a/n: alright so... don’t fool around with your teacher pls. live vicariously thru y/n :) 

He seemed so out of place here. For one thing, a bar like this was hardly known for much good happening, and this man exuded good. He seemed fit, even as he sat at the bar, his face sharp, full of angles that would have been glorious to sketch, and he had caramel-amber hair that curled around his ears and the nape of his neck. He wore a dark blue turtleneck and slacks, a watch with a leather band around his left wrist. 

“You’re staring.” 

I jumped. I had forgotten that I was mid-conversation. “Huh?”

Zendaya scoffed. “You’re staring at that guy,” she said. “Like, staring super hard. Do you know him?” 

“No,” I mumbled. “He’s just…” I trailed off for a moment, then attempted to save face by taking a sip of my drink. “I like the look of him. Ya know?” 

Zendaya scoffed at me. “I like the look of him too, but you’re on something else here.” There was a pause between the two of us, and Zen’s mouth split into a smile. “Five bucks.” 

“For what?” I asked. 

“You can’t get his number,” Zen said. “I’ll give you five whole dollars if you get his phone number.”

“You don’t have five dollars,” I said playfully, with narrowed eyes. “You don’t even have two coins to rub together.”

“Right, and who bought your drink?” Zen asked. “C’mon, you need to put yourself out there. Ever since you and Jacob broke up, it’s been nothing but… Sad. Your room’s a cave, Y/N. Will you do this for me?” 

I cast a glance at the guy once more, and I sighed. “Why not?” I mumbled under my breath. “But I had better get that fucking money, or I’ll take away your apartment privileges.” 

“I pay half of the rent, fuck you,” Zen laughed. “Go. Go!” 

“I am!” I giggled, and I slid myself out of the booth. The pub was bustling with nightly business, and I edged my way past a group of girls to find a place at the bar. My plan of attack was to order a drink and strike up a conversation with this guy, and grab his phone number before I left. Lucky for me, there was an empty space next to him, and I leaned against the bar with my forearms. 

“Oh, hey, good lookin’!” the bartender, Jake, exclaimed. He was a close friend of mine, hence why I always chose to drink at this particular bar. Our freshman year, he lived in the room across the hall from me, and we frequented each other for screwdrivers (of both varieties) all year. Since then, we continued to grow close. “What’s cooking?”

“Not a lot, Gyllenhaal,” I replied, and our hands met in a quick dap. “Lemme get a rum and Coke.”

“Sure thing,” Jake said. “Gimme two minutes. We’ve got a bachelorette party in the back.” 

“No problem,” I replied, and I watched Jake slide to the other side of the bar. 

The game was now on. I looked over my shoulder to Zendaya briefly, just for long enough to gauge that she was laughing at me, and I cast her a look before turning back. Then, I looked back over my other shoulder, the one closest to the guy, and I caught sight of a book he had. “What’re you reading there?” 

He looked up at me with big brown eyes, and my breath caught in my chest. From far away, he was hot but, up close, he was totally something else. He had strands of ginger in his dark hair, and his fingers closed the book in order to look at the cover, like he himself wasn’t sure of what he was reading. “Chaos Walking,” he answered, and my eyes widened. His voice was gorgeous, pitched low, accented with a London attitude. “My mate told me I’d like it.”

“Don’t think I’ve read that,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “What’s it about?” 

“Well,” he began and laughed lightly. “A lot. Basically, though, it follows a boy who lives in a world with no girls, where you can hear others thoughts, and he meets a girl. It’s sci-fi and… I dunno.” 

“Is it a good read?” I asked. “You seem like you enjoy it.” The book was battered, the paper cover torn and creased, with the spine broken. It was a book that was well-loved, and I liked how his entire being seemed to reflect the book. 

“Oh, I love it,” he said with a smile. “It’s so fun, ya know? The entirety of the story is incredible.” Then, a beat passed, and he added, “I’m Tom.” 

“Well, hi,” I said and gave him a warm smile. “I’m Y/N. No offense, but this sorta place doesn’t seem like your vibe.” 

Tom gave the front of the book a firm pat. “It’s not,” he said. “I was waiting on a friend but he doesn’t seem like he’ll be joining me tonight.”

“I didn’t think so,” I said, wrinkling my nose. “You seem like a coffee shop kinda guy.”

“You don’t quite seem like the sort to be here either,” Tom told me. 

“How do you mean?”

“You don’t belong in a pub like this, I just know it,” Tom told me. “You’d be better suited somewhere else.” 

I shrugged. “I usually don’t leave my apartment to drink,” I said. “But I’m friends with the bartender and I visit every so often just to say hi.” A moment passed. “Wait, back up. Where would I be better suited?” 

Tom smiled, but it seemed more hesitant than before. “At the risk of being bold,” he started. “My flat.” 

“Jesus!” I breathed, and my face went hot. 

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “That was-- I’m so sorry--”

“No, no!” I said quickly. “No, it’s not a problem, I promise. That was bold, Tom, but I don’t mind it. As a matter of fact, I think you might be right.” 

“Glad we agree,” Tom said. “D’you wanna get out of here now?” 

“Sure thing,” I said. My skin prickled at the thought of him against me, and I laid a gentle hand on his arm. “Let me get my bag.” 

When I approached the booth, Zendaya stuck her tongue at me. “You lost,” she said. 

“Did I?” I asked, pulling my bag onto my shoulder. “Or am I going home with him?” 

“Shut up,” Zen laughed. “That was quick as hell.” 

“That tends to happen,” I shrugged. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with Tom.” 

“I hate you,” I heard Zen mutter as I turned away from her. 

Tom’s apartment--his flat, as he called it--was just a short cab ride from the bar, and I had hardly passed through the front door before his hands were pressing into my waist and his mouth was on mine. In an instant, I had melted into him, and my hands tangled in the bottom of his shirt. His mouth tasted like whiskey, which felt totally in-character for him, and he carefully nipped at my bottom lip. 

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” Tom whispered, and he pushed my hair from my neck in order to brush his lips against my throat. No guys in my past had ever told me that in such clear terms, and my entire body ran hot at his words. A shiver ran down my spine, and he huffed a laugh into my neck. “Do you like when I say that?”

“I just like the way you talk,” I admitted. “Could listen forever.” 

“That’s an awfully long time,” Tom told me warmly. His slender fingers inched under my shirt to touch my bare skin, and he slid his hands to lay flat against the small of my back. His kisses lingered on my neck, and the feeling of his soft skin was so lovely. “Let’s start with tonight.” 

“I can manage that,” I laughed. “Bed?” 

As soon as I was down in his bed, Tom was working my shirt off. His hands were so strong and sure against me, and I had no hesitations in letting him do whatever he pleased. His kisses trailed down to my stomach and chest once they were bare to him, and the feel of his mouth on my hip made me take a fistful of those pretty brown waves of his. He just laughed and continued his pursuit downwards, and he rid me of my jeans and panties before pausing and looking up at me. “Is this alright?” He asked. 

“Yeah,” I said. “Just… Yeah.”

“Good girl,” Tom whispered, and I swore I died right there. He took my leg in his strong grip and kissed my inner thigh, and he placed the softest kiss to my quivering cunt. I immediately knew that I was in good hands, and I let my body relax and submit to Tom. His shoulders nudged my legs open further as he pressed his warm tongue to my wetness, and I bit back a moan as I tried to keep my legs from closing. I was already shaking, which was honestly embarrassing, but Tom didn’t seem to mind. In fact, it seemed to encourage him, because he placed a series of sloppy kisses to my throbbing clit that made me squeal. Then, his mouth went straight to where I was leaking, and an obscene slurping filled the air. Fuck, he was good. 

“Oh my God,” I whispered, and his fingers quickly joined his tongue. First one, then two, then his thumb met my clit, and I whimpered. “Oh, fuck, oh my God.” 

“No need to call me that,” Tom whispered. His breath was hot against my wet cunt, his voice raspy, and I couldn’t help the fluttering that enveloped his fingers. “Just my name will do for now.”

The combination of his fingers and mouth made my stomach quiver, and I knew that it wouldn’t be long before I came. I had never come just from being eaten out, and my heart raged against my ribcage when I dared to imagine what came next. His thumb moved slowly around my clit, and his mouth replaced it as his fingers moved in me deliciously. His tongue, so skilled and quick, took up his thumb’s previous job, and he took the throbbing bud into his mouth and quickly nipped it with his teeth at the same moment that his fingertips found home inside me. 

There was no hope of obscuring my moan. “Fuck!” I yelped, writhing in his grip. “T-Tom, fuck.”

“Do you wanna come?” Tom whispered, looking at me through his eyelashes. “Use your words, my darling, please.” 

“Please, please,” I gasped. My head fell back to expose my neck, and I squeezed my eyes shut. My breathing was ragged, and a shock of electricity raced through my whole body when he laughed into my cunt. 

“Such a needy girl,” Tom chuckled. “You don’t have to ask. Whenever you’re ready, just let me know.” 

He lapped at my wet cunt, tasting me like he had dreamt of this, and my hand went from his hair to his shoulder. His waves and curls fell into his eyes, but he kept at his work, even when I pushed at his shoulder. “Tommy,” I whimpered out helplessly. “I-I’m gonna-- You--”

“My darling,” Tom said. “I want you to come on my tongue. Let me taste you, babygirl. Come for me.” 

My bottom lip was bitten nearly raw, and it only became worse when he said that. I nearly tasted blood as he gave my cunt one last kiss, so much more gentle than what he had been doing before, and my hips stuttered as hot pleasure pulsed through every part of me. I grabbed handfuls of his shirt and tugged him close, and he came to lay with his hips between my legs. My vision was blurry with tears as I studied him, oh so close to me now, and I felt a tiny pride at his pink cheeks and glistening lips. That was all me. “Oh, thank you,” I whispered, and he sweetly kissed each of my cheeks. “That was so good.” 

“I’m glad,” Tom said. “Secretly, I pride myself in being able to do that.” 

“You should be proud of that,” I huffed. “Also… ‘my god’?” 

“That was in jest,” Tom began with a light laugh. 

“I know,” I said. My hands trailed up his back, hiking his shirt up to his shoulders, and he helped me in tugging it off. He shook his hair out once it passed his head, and I added, “It’s a fitting name, though.” 

“Really?” He asked, bracing himself above me. “Am I a god, Y/N?”

“Close to it,” I told him. I noticed the way that my hands were trembling as I went to his belt, and he must have noticed as well, because his hands went to my wrists. His hands fit all the way around my wrists easily. It wasn’t rough or dominating by any means; his hands slid up from my wrists to grasp my hands, fingers interlocking with mine as he pressed my hands down beside my head. 

“Take a deep breath, my darling,” Tom told me gently. His thumb made comforting circles on my hand, and my stomach went all fluttery at how serene it was. “You’re shaking so hard. Do we need to stop?” 

“No,” I told him. “I’m alright. I promise.” 

“Alright,” Tom said. “Let me know if we need to stop.” 

I nodded quickly, reaching for a handful of his hair, and I tugged him down to kiss me. I could taste myself on his mouth and, normally, that would have irked me, but with Tom, it only made my thighs tense and warmth spread through my body. My skin rippled at each touch of his fingers, and I let out little mumblings of his name as he kissed my neck and shoulders. 

A surge of boldness ran up my spine, and I moved my hands from where he had placed them back down to his belt. As it seemed was the norm, he was two steps ahead of me, because he was already in the process of leaning back and pulling off his pants. The bedroom was cast only in the soft light of the lamp beside the bed, but I still captured every freckle, hair, and ridge on Tom’s firm chest and stomach. He was the definition of the skinny white guy that had good dick. Or, at least, he gave good head. But someone that good at giving head had to be as skilled elsewhere, right? 

He was back on me in an instant, kissing my neck and making little marks on my skin as I shoved his pants down his thighs. Tom’s hands captured my legs and drew them around his naked waist, and I gasped aloud when I felt his hard cock brush against my cunt, already throbbing once more. In fear of seeming dumb, I didn’t intentionally look, but I could feel the weight of his cock against my body, and I stuttered, “God, Tommy..” 

“That impressive, huh?” Tom laughed.  

“Of course,” I remarked. “What, have you never been told you have a big cock before?”

Tom lifted his head from my neck, and I let out a giggle at his blown-wide pupils and red cheeks. “Where the hell have you been all my life?” He asked with a smile. He laughed, and I noticed the way that wrinkles formed right by his eyes with the extremity of his smile. That was adorable as hell. “You’re gorgeous and so funny, and you’re complimenting me like this? You’re perfect.” 

“I’ve just been waiting for you, I guess,” I shrugged and ran my hands over his built arms, rock solid like a statue. 

“Sorry it took me so long to find you,” Tom smiled. “Traffic was a bitch.” 

I laughed, my head falling back onto the pillows, and Tom situated the head of his cock at my folds. At the feel of it, I gasped, and he swallowed my gasp with a kiss. “Let me know if we need to stop,” he reminded me, kissing my chin gently. 

“I’m fine,” I told him, even though I was shaking so fiercely. Tom sank himself into me, and the deep rumble of his moan made my back arch up against him. “Fuck, darling,” he mumbled. “Cunt’s so tight… Squeezing the hell outta me.” His fingers dug into my hip, surely leaving bruises to later admire, and he snapped his hips forward so that he was fully in me. 

“More,” I whispered. I wasn’t sure what I wanted more of; I just knew that I wanted more of whatever he ended up giving me. 

My whole body thrummed with blood and life as he fucked me, pausing to pant into my neck and kiss my mouth. His back was taut with hard muscles and I raked my fingers down to his waist and back up to his hair. A curl had escaped the rest of his hair and bounced against my forehead with each thrust, and Tom and I each huffed out a laugh at it. Silently, I reached up and twisted the perfect curl around my finger, and Tom gave me another eye-wrinkling smile.

“F-Fuck, darling,” Tom muttered, and I could tell by his stuttering that he was close. The rhythm of his hips had slowed, but his grip on my waist and legs was as tight as ever. “So fuckin good for me, God.” 

“I’m getting close again, Tommy,” I told him, my voice shaking. I’m sure he already knew, what with the way my chest was hot and my breathing was erratic, but I still wanted to see the look on his face when I said it.

“Oh, me too, my darling,” Tom whispered. His hand fell from its place at my hip and came to rest on my stomach, just above the point where he had himself buried inside me, and his thumb-- that damned thumb of his-- slid down until he was playing with my clit once more. There was an urgency this time, though, his movements quicker and messier. With each thrust, his own belly quivered, and I desperately pulled at his hair. I needed him to come first. I needed to feel him spill himself inside of me. I needed to feel his cum leak out of me, to hear him laugh at the mess we made like I knew he would. I needed so much. I just needed him.

“Tommy,” I whimpered, keening into his touch. “Fuck, Tom--”

His lips crashed into mine, and that was all it took. My legs shook around his waist, and my vision went white-hot for a moment. His thrusts were messy, his waves and curls completely undone and hanging in his eyes, and he watched with a greedy gaze as I writhed under him. I pulled his head down into my neck and he resumed his work of nipping my skin and soothing the sting with his tongue, and I kissed the shell of his ear. “Oh, Tom,” I whispered, just loud enough for him to hear over the sounds of our shared gasps. “Please, for me?” 

He pulled himself from me and was spilling in an instant, covering my waist and stomach in his warm cum. He settled himself on his elbows above me once again, and I took care to brush those waves off of his forehead. His hair had gone super curly with the little bit of sweat on his forehead, and I bit the tip of my tongue. “Yeah?” I whispered. 

“Yeah,” Tom agreed. “Let me get you a towel. Stay right there.”

“Wasn’t really planning on going anywhere, honestly,” I laughed. 

When he returned, he was wearing a pair of boxers and a t-shirt that hugged his muscled frame. He sat beside me and carefully wiped me clean with the wet corner of a towel, and he placed a sweet kiss on my forehead. “Are you feeling alright?” Tom asked. “Can I get you anything?” 

“I’m fine,” I told him. “Thanks, though.”

“No worries,” Tom told me. “You’re welcome to stay the night, if you’d like. I must warn you, though, that I like to cuddle.” 

“I would have expected nothing less,” I told him. I sat up, testing my legs for a moment, and my cheeks went hot. “Umm… I don’t think I can walk.” 

Tom’s eyes went big for a moment, and he reached for me with a hesitant hand. “Are you kidding?” He asked. 

“My legs are shaking too hard,” I whispered and bit my lip. 

“Oh, my darling, I’m so sorry,” Tom told me, his eyebrows pitching up. “I truly didn’t mean to hurt you--”

“You didn’t,” I said quickly. “It’s… This is a good thing. I promise.” 

There was a brief exchange that ended with Tom giving me a shirt to sleep in and me promising him that I won’t try to walk until my legs quit shaking. We found each other again once in bed, my head fitting snugly under his chin, and his fingernails lightly scratched up and down my back. The feel of his strong arms around me, holding me in such a protective way, lulled me to sleep. 

The night passed under a thin veil of dreams. All too soon, an alarm began to blare, scaring me fully awake in a second. From the darkness, there was a groan of displeasure, and a grunt as the bed squeaked and shifted, and the alarm was turned off with a solid stab of a finger. “Sorry, darling,” Tom whispered. “I forgot I have an early morning today.” 

“You’re fine,” I whispered. The lamp turned on, and I was met with Tom, his hair messy and frizzy, his face flushed with good sleep. I stretched my arms above my head, allowing a quick squeal, and I said, “I should probably be heading out soon too. I have an eight AM.”

“Ugh,” Tom groaned. “I hate those.” 

“Right,” I agreed. “Who wants to learn at eight in the morning?”

“The poor instructor,” Tom laughed. His voice was lower than before, scratchy as well, and my chest warmed at the sound. He fixed his hair out of his face, and he turned to see me, still wrapped up in his shirt and blankets. “You look cozy.” 

“I am,” I said softly. “Wish I could stay for just a little longer.” 

“Pursuit of knowledge is an honorable one, though, darling,” Tom told me. “Would you like to shower first?” 

“No,” I said. “I have to go by my apartment to get my stuff and change clothes anyway, I’ll just shower there.” 

“Alright,” Tom nodded. He reached for me and I met him halfway, brushing my lips to his in a soft kiss, and he gave me a light laugh. “I need to get your phone number. I’d love to do this again.” 

“I’d like that too,” I said. I gave him a parting kiss, then worked myself from the bed. I stretched once more, feeling my back pop, and I found my bag by the door to the bedroom. I gave Tom my phone, open to a new contact listing, and he gave a mischievous smile before plugging in his information. “What’s that smile all about?” 

At the top of my screen, it read Big Dick Tom. 

“Oh, God,” I laughed. “That’s really gone to your head, hasn’t it?” 

“You’re the one who told me that,” Tom argued. “And, if someone tells you that you have a big dick, you take that shit to heart.” 

“Sure, sure,” I said quickly. “I’ll text you; maybe we can get dinner this weekend?”

Tom gave me a smile that was fit for a king. “Of course, my darling girl.” 

Tom ended up sending me home with the shirt I had slept in. It was for some carpentry school in Wales, but it was soft and smelled like Tom, so I didn’t really mind the odd reference. Just before I left, he had swept me up in his arms and kissed me, and he pressed his forehead to mine. “This might be premature,” he whispered. “But do you wanna be my girlfriend?” 

Zendaya slapped a five dollar bill in my hand when I entered the apartment. “Did you have a good time?” she asked.

“The best,” I told her. “He’s super sweet and a great time, and he asked me to be his girlfriend.”

“You said yes, right?” Zen asked.

“Duh,” I scoffed. “A hot Brit who likes me? I’m not letting that go.”

“Right,” Zen said, and the smile dropped from her face. “Well, while you were off getting dick from your new man, our literature professor dipped.” 

“What?” I asked. 

“Yeah,” Zen said, spinning her laptop to face me. She had an email pulled up from the head of the department, declaring that our professor, our beloved Dr. Osterfield, would not be teaching the course any longer. Buried in the text of the email, it said the name of the replacement professor: Dr. Holland. “I tried to look this guy up, but he’s not on Rate My Professor or anything.” 

“It’s halfway through the fuckin’ semester,” I groaned. “This blows.” 

“I just hope this new guy’s easy,” Zen groaned. “I can’t deal with a hard class right now.” 

The class was still held in the same room as before, and the general air was worse than a normal eight AM. At least, with Dr. O, he had an infectious energy that woke us all up. Nobody knew what to expect with this new guy. I hoped that, for my sake, he was cool. 

The door to the classroom opened, and a man said, “I apologize for the wait. It’s just my luck that I’d be late today…” 

My whole body went cold and my heart stopped. Tom. My boyfriend, my fucking Tom stood at the front of the small lecture hall, wearing the jeans and white buttoned shirt that I had helped pick out. “Well, this is a strange thing, isn’t it?” Tom chuckled, clasping his hands together. “I’ll explain, don’t worry. But first, I think maybe an introduction is in order.” 

He unwound his bag from his shoulder and opened it for a moment, and a whole new wave of dread washed over me. While he was in the shower, I had written him a quick note and stuck it in his bag. It was nothing more than “thanks, love. hope to see you soon xx”, but a smile split his face wide. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “Apparently, my girlfriend left me a little note. Hmm! Anyway, I’m Dr. Holland. Call me that, or Tom, or any variation of the above. I promise you, I’ve heard it all.” 

Tom settled himself on the edge of his desk and he fluffed up his hair a bit. It was then that a quiet wave of titters passed through every girl in the hall; a hickey. It was small, but it was there, right under his ear. “I went to school in London, where I’m from, before I got a degree in English literature from Cambridge. Then, I came to the States and managed to get my doctorate in it, and, who’d have guessed it, this is my first teaching job. Go easy on me, huh?.” My little note, written on a sticky note, was clasped in his hand, and I seriously wanted to die right then and there. My professor. I was stupid. Of course the stars had aligned (or misaligned?) to allow this to happen. And just when I thought I found the right guy, too. 

“Right,” Tom said. “Let’s look at the attendance, see what we’re working with, and I’ll let you guys fill me in on what Dr. Osterfield was covering.” 

The closer he got to my name, the colder my face went. I hated every single moment of it. “And… Y/L/N? Y/N?” 

I quietly raised my hand, then managed a meek, “Here.” 

His eyes trained on me, and I watched the same recognition flood his eyes. Quickly, though, Dr. Tom Holland averted his gaze back down to his computer, and he said, “There you are, Y/N… Can I see you after class?” 

[jamaiskookie]

How To Ask Your Crush Out: A Guide For Dummies [knj x reader]

⚖ warnings: intense amount of crack and very very trashy writing 

⚖ word count: 3.3k (very smol boi today, just wanted to get this little drabble out)

⚖ genre: crackity fluff; my specialty :-)

⚖ A/N: been preparing for halloween so forgive me for the short fic, i’ve been pUMPING out content for you guys recently. 

masterlist asks 

⚖ synopsis: Prof. Kim Namjoon is pleased and delighted to present his new class: How To Ask Your Crush Out For Dummies; A comprehensive, follow-along six step guide for the introverted and shy. 

A triumphant Kim Namjoon jumps into frame in front of the huge chalkboard in a huge lecture hall, holding a piece of white chalk in one hand and a pointer in the other, with a slightly maniacal grin stretched on his face. His black thick rimmed glasses are crooked and skewed, sitting on the bridge of his nose, completely lopsided. He’s been awake for- oh he doesn’t keep count. Possibly 28 hours by now. 

“Good afternoon, everyone!”  (It’s 6 in the morning, and nobody is in the audience.) He stretches out the long, metal chalkboard pointer, who he has named Bertha, and smacks it against the chalkboard. It echoes through the empty hall. He secretly loves the sound the long pointer makes. It’s so satisfying, and the fact that he got it on Amazon Prime for only like 2 dollars makes the sound so much better. 

“Welcome to today’s class!” He’s still talking to an empty room. It might be the desperation in him, or just his good ole’ friend sleep deprivation fueling his somewhat insane behaviour. “Today I am completely focused on solving the greatest mystery I have ever encountered in my lifetime. Arguably, this is the most scrutinised cold case ever seen in the world. Today we’ll be tackling: How To Ask Your Crush Out. Would anybody like to start off by introducing themselves, their crush, and how long you’ve been infatuated? Hm?” Crickets. 

“Ah, there’s nobody here!” Namjoon exclaims cheerfully, as if he only just realised. He swings back, turning to the chalkboard and continues teaching. “My name is Kim Namjoon, or Professor Kim to you,” Again, completely empty room. “And I have had a crush on Y/N L/N for almost two years now.” His smile falters when he realises it really has been two whole years. Clearing his throat, he smacks an A3 sized picture of a pretty girl onto the chalkboard. 

You are wearing a long cardigan sweater in the photo, candidly reading with headphones wrapped around your neck. Namjoon has written a barely visible small ‘Y/N, October 4th’ on the top corner of the picture. He’s always had a bit of a photography hobby, but his pictures always seem to turn out better when you are the subject. 

It’s a bit odd how you look so much better when you don’t know he’s taking a photo. All the selfies and old pictures from university he has of you are just as beautiful, but there’s something ethereal about you in your natural state. Sitting down and reading a book in a library. That photo is miles better than any of the stupidly extensive photo-ops you plan out for your Instagram pictures. He stares at the photo before turning back to the (imaginary) class. 

“Let me introduce the- as the kids say- lomél. I believe this is an abbreviation for Love Of My Life. L-O-M-L, if anybody wants to write the spelling down.” He swerves Bertha around to point at your picture. “This,” He says, seriously. “Is Y/N L/N, my… my friend since freshman year of university. I have never confessed my feelings to her, despite trying many, many times. Today, we’re going to trouble-shoot and hopefully solve this problem, while examining a shy person’s abilities to socialise and freely have a love life.”  Namjoon ignores the small voice in his head that mentions how a successful Philosophy professor who speaks in front of hundreds of students every day such as himself should be able to say ‘I like you’ to the girl he’s had a painfully obvious crush on for the past two years. 

“Step ONE:” Namjoon yells, writing a big ‘1’ on the chalkboard. “Do not start off a confession by mentioning a Confucius quote if your crush is not in the philosophy or ethics community! They will not understand no matter how obvious it is!” On the chalkboard, he draws an old man with droopy eyebrows and huge beard- Confucius. Then he draws a huge circle around it and crosses it out with a line using so much force he almost breaks the piece of chalk in his hand. 

“In fact, just don’t mention anything about philosophers! And don’t try to confess to them through a math problem, they will not understand!” Namjoon winces. He learned that one the hard way. (He asked you to isolate ‘1’ in ⅓ < 3, which is a seventh-grade level inequality. You had pushed him away and yelled at him for making you do math. The answer to the inequality equation would have been 1 < 3u.) ((1 < 3u = I <3 you. He thought it was pretty obvious.)) 

He draws a subtraction and addition sign and draws another circle, crossing through it. 

“Step TWO!” Namjoon shouts, cringing at the horrible scratchy noise the chalk makes against the board. “If you do get the chance to confess to them and manage to get through without substantially embarrassing yourself, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT laugh and agree if they ask if you are joking! They will! Laugh along with you! While you try! To hide your pain!” 

“I cannot emphasise this enough!” Namjoon is basically screaming by now. He hopes nobody from campus comes in to complain. The picture of you on the board with the symbols that he’s drawn along with the big ‘FLIRTING AND DATING 101’ written on the top of the board could lead to some severe misunderstandings. “Do not laugh if that ever happens again- I mean, if it ever happens to you! It’s more likely than you would think if you are in love with a dumbass! It will happen! Misinterpretations and concerns will happen! Learn from them!” Namjoon writes a huge ‘laughing to hide the pain = bad ❌’ onto the board. 

“Does anybody have any questions?” More crickets. 

“Okay then, moving on!” Namjoon writes a ‘3’ below the notes for step 2. “Step THREE: Confessing via call, facetime, or handwritten letter would be optimal for the average introvert. I suggest a handwritten letter would be best for this kind of confession. Still not ideal, but it gets the job done. Can someone tell me why a handwritten letter would be better than a call, facetime, or anything on the internet?” Without waiting for his non-existent introvert class to respond, he snaps his fingers, a satisfied look on his face. “That’s right! Facetiming or hearing your crush’s voice would be too nerve wracking and inevitably, you’ll mess up and say something like ‘Did you know that Barbie’s real name is Barbara Millicent Roberts’ instead of ‘I’ve liked you for two years’...  I do not speak from experience.” 

Awkwardly, he clears his throat again, averting his eyes from literally nobody. “Texting would not be good! Texting is considered insensitive and is not a good way to confess your feelings. If the idea of a face to face confession is too intimidating or not ideal in your introverted situation, the aforementioned options would be your best choices. I strongly advise you to stick to those three. In order of a likelihood for a successful confession, it goes: Letter, facetime, then call.” He writes ‘letter > facetime > call > speaking in real life (?)’ on the board.

“hoWEVER,” He says, pointing at the large ‘3’ he wrote with Bertha. “If you do end up choosing to write a handwritten letter- write this down, this is an important note- do NOT forget to sign your name! Your crush will end up throwing it away thinking it’s a random admirer or a prank. MAKE SURE TO WRITE THIS DOWN!” On the board, he writes down ‘My name → Kim Namjoon.’ He nods thoughtfully. “Yes,” He says. “It’s important to write your name.” He mutters it over and over, staring glazed at the words written on the board. 

Close to bursting into tears, he grabs a hold of his hair and cradles his head in his hands. “Why didn’t you write your fucking name, Namjoon?” He frustratingly mutters to himself. Sighing, he puts his hands on his waist, marvelling at what he’d written so far. The peaceful silence doesn’t last for very long. 

“STEP NUMBER FOUR!” It’s not like him to be so loud. It’s probably a good, balanced combination of his lack of sleep and being alone with his inner thoughts. He’s pretty sure he has an alternate personality who thinks he’s Freud. Freud occasionally throws in some pretty deep psychoanalysis prompts for him to consider when he can’t sleep. 

“If… And only if you build up the courage to ask her out in person-! Well, firstly, congratulations, we’re all very proud of you. Secondly, do it in public! You might be thinking, Professor Kim, why on earth would I want to do it in public? Getting rejected in public is so much more horrible!? Well, BELIEVE ME, UNBELIEVERS- Getting rejected in public is sO much better than getting rejected in private! Due to our tendency to not draw attention to ourselves and the way we like to shrink in public, it’s much more likely that we won’t break down in tears if we get rejected in public! Well, once you get back home, you might start breaking down, so maybe this is just a temporary solution, but it’s still better than sobbing in front of your crush when you devastatingly get rejected!” 

Knitting his brows together, Namjoon corrects himself. “Not when you get devastatingly rejected, sorry. If. If. Yes, if. If you get devastatingly rejected. Come to think of it, in a purely logical way, you have a 50/50 chance of succeeding in your confession. ‘I like you, do you like me?’ That’s a yes or no question, isn’t it? A confession is exactly the same as flipping a coin! You have a 50% chance of getting heads, 50% chance of getting tails. Either way, you get on with your life despite getting heads or tails. So… the odds are kinda in your favour!” 

“Except when you flip a coin, you wouldn’t get nervous to the point where you accidentally push the coin into a mud filled pond where the coin’s favourite shirt got ruined so then the coin proceeded to ignore you for the next two weeks, making it the most miserable two weeks of your entire life… But that probably won’t happen again.” Namjoon mutters underneath his breath.  “Coins don’t wear shirts anyways.” Somehow, that seemed to comfort him. He writes down ‘coins can’t wear shirts’ on the chalkboard. 

“Step number FIVE!” Namjoon shakes his head, taking a sip of the espresso that’s been sitting on his desk for hours. “What was step number five agai- oh right. Step number five: look your best!” Namjoon catches sight of his reflection and winces. “Okay, maybe I don’t have a great example right now.” He reaches up and runs his fingers through his hair, almost puking when he feels the amount of grease and gunk buried in his scalp. He should probably shower. And get some sleep. His eye bags do not look very attractive right now. Maybe he should get a haircut too, it’s kinda getting wild up there. In his own defence, he’s been standing in this exact pair of sweatpants and glasses for the past couple hours, so he smells a tiny bit. Don’t girls like it when guys wear grey sweatpants? Frowning, Namjoon makes a mental note to do some research later on. 

“Shower, change, put in contacts, cologne, flowers…” Namjoon starts writing a to-do list onto his small notebook. “Would she like flowers, actually? Is it misogynistic of a guy to bring flowers or is it just a cute, nice gesture? Am I overthinking this?” His phone vibrates in the middle of his feminism breakdown, and he pats his back pockets before realising his phone was across the table. He grunts as he leans over to pick it up, and thoughtlessly, he accepts the call and brings it up to his ear. “Hello?”

“Where are you?” Your voice is both a comfort and a shock to hear so early in the morning. He can already see you sighing aloud and scrunching up your nose cutely, a habit you picked up from him himself. He does it when he’s embarrassed, but you do it when you’re angry. It doesn’t really work because now whenever you get mad he just swoons and gushes over your cute nose and chubby cheeks. 

“aH- Um… What time is it?” Namjoon fumbles around, jumping up. 

“It’s like 7 in the morning? Hello, you promised to come workout with me today? Come open your door, I’ve been ringing your doorbell for forever, but I think it’s broken. I’ll call the repair guy for you later.” Namjoon lets out a nervous laugh, guiltily looking at his shoes even though he knows you can’t even see what he’s doing right now. 

“It’s already seven? Wow, time flies really fast. I’m- ” He yawns, bringing the phone away from his ear for a moment. “- really tired.” A beat passes by. How is it possible that he can hear you get angry at him from here?

“Namjoon.” Another awkward laugh rings through the lecture hall. 

“Ahahha. - Yes?” 

“Are you at work right now?” You ask, voice suddenly turning stone cold. 

“Um, well, that’s a debatable question. See, is it really, honestly my work if I love doing it? Sure, it makes me a living, but of course I don’t consider it to be my workplace, you know? Like, I get to come in and do what I love every single day, educating the next generation. It’s actually a really bad mindset because once you refer to your job as ‘work’ you don’t-”

“Namjoon.”

“Okay yes, I’m at work.” He relents, pushing his glasses up and sighing. 

“Joon, it’s seven! Like, seven in the morning! Have you been in there since you clocked in yesterday morning?” You ask worriedly. 

“Uhh, I think so?” To be honest, he’s been here for two nights already, crashing out on a beanbag and brushing his teeth in the staff bathroom when he needs to. 

“Namjoon!” He mumbles out an apology. “What the hell could you have been doing in there? You don’t even have that many classes this week!” Namjoon lets his eyes trail over to the chalkboard, then back down to his notebook. 

“Uh… it’s kinda complicated?”  

“Okay, okay, I’ll come home now, don’t worry!” He says, even before you can demand he take care of himself. Sometimes, you’re just a teensy bit overbearing. It’s a messed up miracle he managed to fall in love with you in the first place. 

“Be careful, okay? It’s flu season, too, so you really can’t be this reckless! You’re literally going to drive me into an early grave, for fuck’s sakes. You’re always fussing over how overworked I am, so how could you not take care of yourself? That’s so hippo- hypo- ugh, what’s the word?” 

“Hypocritical.” Namjoon says into the phone while packing up his things. 

“Hypocritical, yes. You better be here in ten minutes or less, Kim. Come home, take a shower and then sleep. I’m guessing you have done neither of those things since yesterday.” Namjoon doesn’t have the decency or humility to give you an honest answer, so he just stays silent. His eyes are still fixed on the chalkboard. Where was he at when your phone call interrupted? Ah, yes. Step number six: ‘I love you.’ Step number six was a piece of advice he had gotten from Min Yoongi, a music theory professor who taught just a couple minutes away from Namjoon’s office. He’s been dating Jung Hoseok, another mutual friend of Namjoon’s, for a few years now. 

“What do you mean?” Yoongi just blinked when Namjoon asked him, stared blankly at him, lips threatening to pull up into a smirk. 

“What do you mean, ‘What do you mean’?” Namjoon said, huffing. “How did you confess to Hobi?” 

“Bro,” Yoongi said, now freely laughing at Namjoon. “If you can’t confess to her, just wait until you get around to thinking about proposing. Never been more nervous in my life, swear to god.” Namjoon had never been a violent type. Up until he met Yoongi. 

“Just- tell me how you did it, would you?” Yoongi gave a rare, small smile and beckoned him closer. He leaned in, about to tell Namjoon a big secret. 

“Just say it.” He whispered into Namjoon’s ear. Namjoon rolled his eyes, pulled away and rested his head on the sofa. 

“That’s the most useless thing I’ve ever heard.” 

“No it’s not!” Yoongi also leaned back into his seat. “Just say it. ‘I love you.’ It’s nothing difficult. Just say it!” Namjoon scoffed and left, but Yoongi called something out while he was walking away. “Hey, you’re going to lose her if you don’t do anything.” Namjoon froze, but continued to walk. Yoongi watched, two seconds later, amused as Namjoon came rushing back in, sat himself down on the sofa and demanded Yoongi tell him everything he needed to know. 

Thus, his six steps were born. 

If Min Yoongi, a person who is possibly even more shy and even more introverted than Namjoon, (Which is a big feat) can ‘just say it’, he should be able to do it easily. Namjoon nods to himself, rolling his head back and cracking a neck bone. 

Taking a deep breath, he speaks into the phone. 

“Hey, I have something to tell you.” 

“It can wait,” You say. It’s so like you to ruin a love confession, Namjoon thinks, laughing. “Come home, go sleep for a couple hours, then we can talk. It’s not important, is it?” He stares at the chalkboard, letting out a satisfied exhale. 

“Nope.” He says. “Not that important. I’ll tell you later.” 

“Okay,” He hears you grunt from the other side of the phone, shuffling around. “Hey, I’m gonna hang up first, I’ll wait for you to get here. Where’s your spare key again?” 

“Underneath the compartment in the hanging plant. Yeah- the one above the front door.” He hears the familiar jingle of his keys and your adorable ‘a-ha!’ from the phone, and his smile stretches wider. 

“Ohh, okay, got it. Thanks! You don’t mind if I go in first, right?” 

“Nah.” 

“Okay, bye!” Before he says it back, you hang up, and he’s left with an annoying beeping sound that repeats in his ear. He misses you, Namjoon muses to himself. He hasn’t seen you for much too long. Happily, he skips to the back of the lecture hall. (which he then immediately regrets when he finds out his legs don’t work properly after staying in the exact same position for hours without end.) He doesn’t even mind that you’ll see him in this horrendous state if he gets to see you fuss over him again. Your soft side coming out is like spotting a rare bonsai tree on sale in a run-down store- extremely special and only happens once in a while. 

Okay, that analogy was really bad, he just really wanted to mention his bonsai trees.

He spares one last glance to the filled chalkboard. With good luck, nobody will walk in and see that mess all over the board. He’d probably get fired. 

“I love you.” He says to himself. Maybe Yoongi was right. It does sound pretty easy. Namjoon walks out of the lecture hall, switching off the lights and running off to see you. 

Kim Namjoon’s Six Steps Towards Confessing Your Love: Introvert Edition

Do not refer to anything academic or clever in your confession. 

Do not laugh when they ask if you are joking once you confess. 

Letter > facetime > call

Confess in public. 

Look your best!

Just say it. 

⚖  wanna talk to professor!joon? or add yourself to the taglist?

[jekkifics]

fading lights

Suwon was always different. So his parents enrolled him into a special kids school.

•••••

At dot 11:11 something emerged from the wall, startling Suwon. What followed was some kind of foul smelling powder being blown into his face. He waved his hand vigorously in front of his face and coughed stepping behind. “..the fuck?”

“Hey boy!” said a little figure floating in the air. It was the high pitched voice of a female.

“ooOh~ he looks cute!” said another.

When the dust from the powder magically cleared up, Suwon saw three women or girls he couldn’t really guess because they were so small. A little bigger than his hand. They were dressed in sparkly white dresses and tiny white boots. Suwon noticed that they weren’t floating, in fact they were flying, using their translucent webbed wings. He had never seen such creatures before.

“What’s your name?” asked the first.

Suwon stared at them.

“He’s deaf” whispered another girl.

“Blind too..” whispered another as she waved her tiny hands at him receiving no response.

“I’m not,” said Suwon.

“See, he’s not blind, maybe just deaf”

The middle girl who seemed like the older one smacked her. “He wouldn’t have heard you if he was deaf!” Then turning to Suwon, she flew lower to come in level with his face. “Hi there! I am Bada. And we are faeries, faes, if you may.”

Suwon nodded. Faes, whatever that is.

“We are here to take you to your new home safely. So kindly follow us” said Bada as she turned around and walked right into the wall.

“I’m Eugene” said another fae and followed Bada into the wall.

“And I’m Shoo'' said the remaining one. “It's shoo, and not shoe. As in S-H-O-O-'' She paused to look at the nervousness on Suwon’s face. “What happened?”

“I can’t do this” Suwon shook his head. “I can’t walk into the wall” Being the complete human he was, walking into a wall seemed impossible. He was never able to do it before and he was sure he still couldn’t

“Cmon, it's no big deal. Just close your eyes and follow your noona” said Shoo proudly.

Suwon’s eyes were fixed on the concrete wall. This is dumb. This is dumb! I wanna go home!

“Okay, alright. If you’re that afraid. Take a few steps back and run in” suggested Shoo.

Suwon obeyed. Water splashed on his shoes as he accidentally stepped into puddles. It didn’t bother him. There was no turning back now.

“Now listen to me carefully” began Shoo. “number one, you might feel a little giddy when you emerge on the other side because it's your first time. Number two, while you’re inside the wall for a second, you’ll hear deafening noises because you are teleporting so do not stop. Number three, do not stop until you’re out in the open again. Now at the count of three, 1, 2-”

Suwon dashed at full speed at the concrete wall. His eyes shut as he was a few inches from the wall and entered it. It was something he hadn’t felt before. Like someone was trying to tear him apart but he was faster. His surroundings were spinning and he was afraid he’d come out at some other exit, yet Suwon didn’t dare to open his eyes. He kept running on what didn’t seem like ground. It was solid air? Nothing made sense anymore.

Suwon tripped and fell down the next second. His foot had been caught into a twig. He was on grass, in a jungle. The environment was so fresh. He dusted his clothes and stood up. The three faes looked like they had been waiting for him for a while now.

“See, that wasn't that bad, was it?” asked Shoo.

“I am never doing this again” Suwon huffed combing fingers across his hair. He glanced behind and there was literally just more jungle. He had emerged from thin air. It was merely a second that he had been inside the wall but he was going to remember it forever.

The three faes led Suwon through the jungle. It was a bright pleasant day. From behind the trees at a distance peaked a tower. Bada began rambling about the school, the people, the teachers, the subjects, the fun stuff. Apparently these three were part of the student council and volunteered to get first years to the campus.

They emerged into an open field next to which was the huge school. For once Suwon thought it might not be that bad after all. If this school was really for special kids, he won’t be an outcast anymore. He could finally be normal.

Suwon was taken up a spiral staircase at the end of the hallway. It was about ten floors later that they reached a cabin. The faes left him alone there.

“Jang Suwon! Good…” the man glanced at the clock that struck 12 at that moment. “afternoon!” He was a small man with black rectangular glasses. He was pale and had swept across dark brown hair. He was the principal, Seo Taiji.

Suwon bowed. “Good afternoon sir”

“I have been waiting for you my boy” Taiji put his hand on the younger’s shoulder. He continued talking about how he was delighted to know about Suwon when his father reached out to Taiji a few days ago. “You’ll find a lot of people here. Some weird, some very weird. You have to choose your weird. Everyone here is unique and so are you, but promise me one thing” Taiji’s voice deepened and softened. “Never, ever, ever, tell anybody what your powers are”

Suwon’s eyes widened. His heart started pounding. This is supposed to be a safe place for him right? Where he could be himself. What was this now?

“Why?” Suwon asked promptly.

“Because-” Taiji paused straightening himself. His heightened senses told him someone was approaching. About a minute later, they heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

“Is the new boy here, sir?” It was Prof Jinu.

Taiji put on a warm smile turning Suwon to Jinu. “Here he is. You should take him to his dorm” Taiji nudged Suwon.

Jinu led Suwon across the room to another exit. They entered an alley that opened into a slide. Jinu turned to Suwon, gesturing to him to go first. Suwon craned his neck out. The slide was so long and steep, he couldn’t see the other end. He gulped and sat down. His heart was beating harder than ever. Is there anything normal here? Suwon thought, and the answer struck him immediately. Of course there isn’t. That’s exactly why he was here.

However, the slide looked more like a rollercoaster without safety measures aka, death. He gulped, “Sir, is there any other-” before Suwon could complete Jinu pushed him down the slide.

Suwon screamed his lungs out as he fell down the hole. He was afraid any movement he made would topple him off but he couldn’t even see where he’d fall. About ten seconds of yelling Suwon’s throat dried up and he still hadn’t reached the end. He stopped making any noise and sat there falling. The only sound was of air cutting past him. Towards the end, the slide was 180 degrees and Suwon was literally falling down, his butt was barely touching the slide anymore. An ending opened at a distance. Suwon fell right through onto a hard wooden floor.

“OW!” He yelped. A sharp jerk ran up his spine from the impact. He hadn’t broken any bones but his ass was sore. Really sore.

The door in front of him swung open. Until then Suwon hadn’t even noticed the door.

“Guys! he’s here!” said a good-looking boy. He looked as old as Suwon and had light brown hair that shaped his face. He stretched out a hand to help Suwon up. “Your stuff was brought nearly twenty minutes ago, we were wondering where you were,” he said. Their room was pretty spacious. There were three beds lined on one side and two on the other. Four were occupied and a crumpled one probably belonged to the boy who led him in. “I’m Sunghoon” said the boy. “This is Jiyong” he pointed to the tall lanky boy sleeping on the bed next to him. “That’s Jiwon hyung,” he pointed at the boy on the opposite bed. He was too busy playing gameboy with his headphones on. “That’s Jaijin hyung” he peeked from behind his comic book, scanning Suwon from head to toe. “And that’s-”

“I’m Kim Jaeduck” said the last boy as he sprang from his bed with excitement. “Nice to meet you….?” he trailed off.

“Suwon”

“Suwon, right. Nice to meet you Suwon!” Jaeduck and Sunghoon were by far the most normal people Suwon had met since morning. He had already made up his mind to stick with the two of them in case he couldn’t get along with the other three in the room.

Suwon collected his suitcase and backpack that were lying in the end of the room. “Where do I sleep?”

Sunghoon pouted with hands on his hips as he looked around the room. There wasn't space for another bed and it was too small to share.

“You can take mine for now.” chimed Jaeduck. “You only need it for night right, take mine”

“What about you then?” asked Suwon.

“It's that time of the month for me so I’ll be out all night anyway” said Jaeduck.

Suwon’s eyebrows furrowed. “That time of the month?”

Jaeduck smacked his lips. “You know, blood and all,”

Periods? Suwon could bet he never heard of guys menstruating. Was it even possible? Of course not! Guys don’t have a uterus that's basic biology. Unless, he’s…. A eunuch? But do you eunuchs have a uterus? Now that Suwon thought of it, he really didn’t know. Who was he to judge anyway? Wait, why did that require him to be out all night? Omg! Is that how people here treated eunuchs?! That’s fucking horrible!

“So you have to stay out all night?? As… punishment???”

“I wouldn’t call it punishment. It's the best option for us all” said Jaeduck.

Best option my ass! Who treats humans like this!

“You don’t deserve this kinda treatment!”

“Hey calm down” Jaeduck chuckled, settling the younger down on the bed next to him. “It's nothing new here. Our kind is used to this”

It pissed Suwon even more.

“Why the fuck do you have to be out all night! Just use pads like girls do!”

From the corner of his eyes Suwon felt Hoony turning around to look at him in utter confusion.

There was complete silence for a moment, then Jaijin burst out laughing, almost doubling over himself. Seconds later, Sunghoon started laughing when he realized.

Jaeduck and Suwon watched them cluelessly.

“You think he’s talking about periods??” Jaijin asked, battling his laughter.

“No?” Suwon asked, partly relieved, partly confused.

“Omg NOOO!!” Jaeduck squealed. “Are you crazy?! I’m A GUY!”

“What he means is, he’s a werewolf,” explained Jaijin.

Huh? Suwon thought he heard something wrong.

“A what?”

“A werewolf. It's a full moon today, so,, time for him to go wild and attack any human. Hence the isolation. It's not just him. All werewolves here go into the jungle on full moon nights so they can’t harm any of us”

Suwon wasn't listening. His brain had stopped working the moment Jaijin said Jaeduck was a werewolf.

I WAS TALKING TO A GODDAMN WEREWOLF ALL ALONG!?

•••••

further on : ao3

[messagefromtheveins]

Books, Guitar Lessons and Kisses

A/N: In celebration of my birthday being less than a few hours away I decided to gift you with this random piece of college!Shawn that has the worst title ever. 

Words: 1490

Pairing: Shawn/reader

"You look lost," you giggled, keeping your voice low in consideration that this was a library and people were trying to study. The curly head snapped up and turned to look at you, the most beautiful dark eyes you had ever seen in your entire life making contact with yours and a small, helpless smile spreading over his pouty lips.

"Yeah, kinda," he chuckled and raised a hand to awkwardly scratch the back of his neck from where a chain dangled, disappearing beneath his rather tight T-shirt that stretched around his biceps. "My prof told me to get a book but I can't find it anywhere," he sighed, his eyes once again skimming the high shelves in front of him.

"Can I?" you asked and reached for the paper he held in his hands, his gaze falling on you again.

"Oh, yeah. Sure," he quickly handed you the slip of paper where a title and author of a book was written down, a small grin tugging at the corner of your lips.

"English literature, huh?" you asked amused and reached into your bag to pull the exact book out.

"Yeah, I just transferred here and now I have to catch up on all that stuff," he sighed, seeming very stressed as he ran a hand through his hair, a single curl falling down his forehead.

"Well, bad news is- there's literally not one copy left. People already had to buy that book themselves because no library in town has just a single one left," you started off, a groan leaving his mouth as he turned to look at you again. "Good news is, I'm through with mine," you added with a grin and shoved the book into his arms, a confused expression on his face.

"Are you for real right now?" he asked in a soft voice and looked at you while adjusting the book in his hands, "you're also in English literature?"

"Mhm. And don't worry about it, it's really not that hard. I mean, the book is complete shit, but our professor is actually really cool," you said, a relieved chuckle slipping past his lips. "And we're all really nice, so if you need help with something…" you trailed off and shrugged your shoulders, giving him a soft smile.

"You're a life saver, do you know that?" he asked, his features a lot more relaxed and less stressed out. You shrugged with a little grin.

"Ah, I try, I guess."

With a soft laugh he shot a quick glance at his watch. "Uh, I get if you're busy, but my coffee addiction is drawing attention to itself again and I'd really love to talk to you a bit longer? Maybe in a place where people aren't looking at us like they're ready to kill?"

You giggled and adjusted your bag on your shoulder, lightly biting your bottom lip. "On one condition."

"What is it?"

"You tell me your name," you said, a soft laugh slipping past his lips.

"It's Shawn."

–—–—–—–—–—–

Over the months you had learned a lot about Shawn. You had learned that he had his own place and worked at a café to pay his rent. You had learned about his little quirks and rough edges, how he absolutely hated it to be put under stress and therefore wasn't the most pleasant company when midterm exams were getting closer and closer. And yet at the end of the day when he'd finally push his books and notes aside until the next morning he never failed to text or call you or even come around and apologize if he had accidently snapped at you. You had learned that he was definitely not a morning person and couldn't live without at least three coffees a day. You had learned that he loved music and was incredible at playing guitar, and you also had learned that he was quite embarrassed about it and shy when it came to playing in front of you.

So when you were at his place one Friday night you were quite surprised when he offered to teach you how to play guitar as he caught you staring at it.

"If you don’t mind," you responded with a little shrug, a soft smile spreading over his face as he grabbed the instrument and instructed you to sit between his legs before he placed it across your lap. Your heart started beating a bit faster at your proximity, your skin tingling where he gently grabbed your hands and placed them on the guitar. You didn't even properly listen as he explained the different cords to you, moving your hands and playing different tunes. You couldn't concentrate on anything except for his warm breath on your neck and shoulder, how strong his arms felt around you and how soft his skin felt on your hands.

Of course you had noticed how your feelings towards him had changed over the course of the last few weeks. How your heart had suddenly started fluttering whenever he smiled at you, how you never wanted to leave his side again whenever he casually draped an arm over your shoulders.

"Hey, space cadet. Are you even listening to me?" he suddenly chuckled, your eyes widening as you snapped out of your daydream. "Where have you been again?"

Of course he had also learned a lot about you. Like the fact that you tended to drift off a lot, your mind far away.

"Sorry," you mumbled a bit embarrassed as he removed the guitar and allowed you to stand up, though his hands placed on your waist and gently turned you around, looking up to you as you stood in between his spread legs. You slowly reached out and let your hands run through his curls, a habit you had picked up after discovering how soft his hair was a few weeks ago.

He lightly bit down on his bottom lip, seeming to hesitate for a second before his hands slipped to your thighs and tugged you closer, watching your reaction in case you'd push him back. But you got the hint and let him tug you closer until you straddled him, his hands once again curling around your waist as you were on eye level again, the hazel in his iris seeming darker than usually.

The tension between the two of you grew by the second as his eyes kept moving to your lips, quickly looking up into your eyes again just to let his gaze drop once more. He repeated it over and over while he subconsciously licked his own pair of lips, his hands slightly squeezing your waist. Your heart was racing by now and you were sure that he could probably hear it.

"Can I kiss you?" he whispered, your heart leaping as you registered his words, your whole body heating up in anticipation. You found yourself nodding slightly, his breath hitching. Licking over his lips again, he cautiously leaned in and rested his forehead against yours, his thumbs brushing over the fabric of your T-shirt where he was still holding your waist. Your hands were trembling slightly as you placed them on his broad shoulders, slowly letting them move up his neck and feeling his short stubble under your palm until you cupped his face in your hands. He released a shaky breath, eyes looking straight into yours and holding your intense gaze for what felt like forever until he tilted his head, both your and his eyes falling shut as his lips just barely brushed over yours.

A second passed in which your lips were so close to touching, your breaths mixing and your heart pounding in anticipation before he finally pressed his lips against yours, your breath hitching in your throat. His lips fit perfectly against yours. He tugged you closer until your chest was pressed up against his, your arms wrapping around his neck and holding him close. Letting a hand move up to tangle into his hair, you tugged slightly as he gently bit down on your bottom lip and sucked on it, getting a growl-like sound from him.

You felt his hands slide down to grip your hips as he pulled back just to tilt his head to the other side and kiss you again, the new angle making both of you gasp slightly. You didn't concentrate on anything that happened around you, not even how fast you heart was racing. The only thing that really mattered in this moment was how perfect his lips felt against yours.

His teeth found your lower lip again, gently tugging on it and getting another gasp from you, your hands pulling on his hair again.

And you couldn't help but release a shaky breath in form of his name as he slowly pulled back, your eyes meeting his blown ones. For several seconds complete silence settled between you, both of you breathing a little faster than usually.

[thequeenofcronuts]

Uncertainties - Tales of the Past Flashback 1

Tales of the Past Flashback 1 - Flashback to the group during Spring Term at USC

AU Summary - Career life is busy for a group of six friends when they meet a captivating woman with a beautiful soul. New friendships are forged and new romances revealed. All the while hearts are torn and closets are cleared of skeletons. True love always wins in the end, right?

AU Warnings - This Stand Alone will include the following 18+ subjects: Language, NS*W, Verbal Abuse, and Abortion. If ANY of these subjects will cause pain or hardship in reading, please skip reading Uncertainties. That being said, each chapter will include its own specific warnings.

AU Uncertainties Pairings and Characters: Drake x Riley /  Liam x Riley  /  Liam x Olivia  / Drake x Olivia / Maxwell x Savannah, including Hana, and Madeleine, and OCs

Tags @client-327 @dcbbw @carabeth @drakesensworld @purplegreyshrimp

Tales of the Past Flashback 1 Summary - Take a look back at memories the group share from their Spring Term, Freshman Year at the University of South California 

Tales of the Past Flashback 1 Warnings - NS*W, Language 18+. By reading this you consent that you are 18+

Chapter Word Count: 5,000 give or take

**All characters from the Choices Book: The Royal Romance are owned by Pixelberry Studios (Any other characters are the product of my brain…I probably should apologize now. 🙃😉)

Olivia and Liam are sitting out on the grass in the quad, soaking in the sunshine, while studying for their Spring midterms. Well, she's studying for her last exam while Liam is writing an essay. “I can't fucking believe for a History course your midterm is not an exam but writing an essay.” Liam gives her a wry smile. “Not my fault you chose to take Hell- manities, aka Humanities, this semester. You know that prof’s intention is to make as many of his students fail as he can.” Olivia scoffs. “My guess is the old man takes it out on us because he’s not getting any. His cringe worthiness is like a 20 out of 10, while his sexual attraction is so low it can't even be measured. Liam is lost in a sea of laughter while he falls backward onto the grass. “True enough, Olivia. From what I’ve heard from Drake he hates the prof as much as you do.” “Walker is a dumb ass, but for once he is correct in his description of the prof as the ‘Professor of Rapacious Evil’. I would feel sorry for the prof’s wife, but I don't have it in me. Her choice after all.” Liam looks up at the blue sky. “You know Olivia, we really can be big assholes.” “Meh,” Olivia shrugs, “It’s all apart of the college experience.”

It's quiet between them for awhile, campus life swirling around them, when finally Olivia clears her throat causing Liam to look up into her deep emerald eyes. “So Liam. I kinda need to tell you something and I’m not sure how you’ll react.” She takes a breath. “During the Midterm party at your guy’s frat house I slept with someone.” She looks trying to read his expression but gets nothing. After a moment Liam does a very tiny shrug. “Well I’m not saying I’m thrilled, but we have agreed not to be exclusive, and we’ve only been together since a few days before Thanksgiving Break. And come on, Olivia, it was a frat party after all.” Liam quirks a brow and chuckles, but she lowers her eyes. “Well, there's a bit more. The rest of the story is it was with Drake. I really fucked up Liam.” She pauses. “Ok, maybe that was the wrong phrase to use. Anyway Liam, how pissed are you?” Liam does swallow hard before answering, “Ok, so now I’m really beyond not thrilled at this point, but I know you two were…active most of last semester.” He looks back up the sky for a minute.

“Olivia, the six of us have only known each other since the beginning of the year, which obviously isn't that long, yet we all have become rather close quickly. We do spend all of our free time together. Hell, I think Maxwell and Savannah may actually be very serious already. If we were in a different stage in our relationship then this conversation is quite different. Right now you're not leading me on and Drake and I aren't in some backstabbing competition.” Liam leans up and gives her a sweet kiss on the cheek. She can finally look him in the eyes. “You know Liam, I’ve honestly come to hate him over these last couple months. He's an egotistical jerk who acts like it pains him to be around, I guess, anything.” 

She looks out over the quad with a frown on her face. “I can see your point,” Liam lays back on the ground again as he plucks a blade of grass turning it over in his fingers, “but as Maxwell and I are getting to know him more it seems that it might not be his ego so much that holds him back. There may be something else.” She gives him an over exaggerated sigh. “Well think what you want, I’ll just keep on hating him, a lot.” He laughs at her matter of fact tone. “What's so funny over there, Rys?” “Olivia, you find so much joy in pushing all of Drake's buttons. You really are a certain brand of evil when it comes to him, and if I wasn't getting to know you better, I’d be scared.” She flops down on the grass next to him and takes his hand, he chuckles as their eyes meet and gives her hand a gentle squeeze. “"No matter, Liam, I blame what happened during party on alcohol. Lots, and lots of alcohol.”

A few days later Olivia and Liam are in the dining halll for lunch. “Olivia,” Liam said over the chatter of the dining hall. “The Humanities exam is only three days away. You're going to have to put your pride aside and ask him to help you study for this exam. Only you two, out of the six of us, are in Humanities this semester. It could be, ummmm, let me think a moment.” he shoots her a devilish grin. “It could be a very….cathartic experience for you and this certain Humanities classmate.” As he finishes her eyes spit daggers into his soul and she hisses, “You know, you’ve been finding way too much joy in toying with me about all this.” Liam cocks his head, “Well, my minx, can you blame me? You have to admit we both benefit immensely when you’re all riled up.” He wiggles his brows at her. “Fine. Yes it is hot and amazing when I’m riled up.” He kisses her with a growl while those around their table look up and stare. “It seems, Liam, we agree on our stance when it comes to PDA, but back to the matter at hand. It's not all about pride in needing help for the exam. Around our small group of friends he’s using innuendo as his ammo to push my buttons all the time now, and it sucks.” With her arms crossed, and jaw clenched she looks expectedly at Liam for his response. “Well Olivia, what can I say? Karma’s a bitch. Look, just study together and pass your exam, okay. You need your GPA this semester to be better than last, or my little minx won't still be on campus with me Sophomore year.” His kisses her on the cheek and spots Drake, he waves him over.

“Hey Drake, we were just talking about you. Come on over and sit with us.” Olivia kicks Liam hard under table as Drake looks at them both, shrugging, while turning his eyes to Olivia menacingly.  “Heh, sure, thanks. So what's up with you two on this fine afternoon?” Drake asks as he sits. Liam glances at Olivia out of the corner of his eye as he answers, “Oh not much. We’re just sitting hear eating lunch and talking about midterms, especially Olivia's Humanities exam.” She would have Liam incinerated into ash that very second, just by one look, if at all possible. “Thank god all I have left that Hell-manities exam.” Drake looks at the textbook next to him and winces.

“Yeah, Olivia was talking about needing a study partner for that one, thinking two classmates getting ready for the exam would help out both.” Her eyes bore into Liam while Drake gives him a smirk as he replies, “Why the hell not? It's going to be a bitch of an exam, so sharing notes sounds good. My night class tomorrow doesn't get out until after the library and Student Union close. We can study in the lounge of our frat house. Those sorority girls in your house can't ever stop squealing or squeeing or whatever the hell you all call it.” Drake takes a bite of his burger and Liam slaps him on his shoulder. “Sounds like you and Olivia have a plan. Well, we’re off. See you later Drake.” When Liam and Olivia reach her sorority house she grabs him by the arm yanking him to halt. “So help me Liam, if you weren't so sexy and good in bed I’d wrap my hands around your neck and choke you hard right here.” Liam chuckles. “Oh Olivia, promises, promises.

The next night she is sitting in the lounge of the guy’s frat house simmering heading quickly into full on fuming. All the pool tables are being used by drunken guys and girls, liquor flowing, and couples are making out everywhere. Included Maxwell and Savannah which causes Olivia to visibly cringe. Finally Drake shows up finishing off some fries. “You went on a stroll for food after class while I’ve been sitting here in an ocean of morons?!” “Hey, the body and brain need fuel. So, shall we?” “Fine,” she sighs. “Let's just get this over with as fast as possible.” “Well, well, Olivia,” he pauses for effect, “I’ve never heard you say that to me, ever.” He raises an eyebrow and smirks. ‘I so want to slap you right now’. She stands to leave when she remembers, ‘I have to pass this exam, it’s almost fifty percent of the entire semester grade. Fuck.’ “Walker, just shut the fuck up and study.” 

With that she takes a seat again while they pull out their notes. Not long after Olivia realizes that Drake is actually smarter than she had originally pegged him to be. Definitely takes better, more detailed notes. ‘Shit, I really am going to need his damn notes and explanations for this exam.’ After about a half an hour later they can't even hear each other thanks to the college night life buzzing around them.  So Drake nods to upstairs with Olivia shaking her head vehemently. ‘But…Shit, I really need to pass this course. My GPA has to be better to stay in the Sorority House next year. Fuck.’ They reach Drake's room. “Door.stays.open. Walker.” Drake throws his hands up in surrender. “That was my plan.”

Studying for about forty-minutes the antics out in the hall are just as bad as they are downstairs. Drake gets up to shut the door but before he latches it closed he turns to her, “Would you rather leave?” ‘I so hate myself right now.’ “No. I’ve noticed how shit my notes are.” He shuts the door and she eyes his every move suspiciously. “For gods sake I’m not a jackoff. I never have nor ever will take advantage or force something on anyone. You even told me you remember your ‘yes’ this past party.” Drake says wholeheartedly meaning it all,  and she knows it's true. He wouldn't ever. “I know it, Drake.” But he does decide, however, to use this time to pay her back for the comment she made about him yesterday loudly in the crowded Student Union. “You just forgot I know how act appropriately with ladies because you never, ever told me ‘no’. You only screamed ‘yes’.” Her jaw clamped. “Is it not true, Miss?” ‘Oh I hate him.’ “That was low. I really do hate you Drake Walker. Actually I hate you even more.” “Guess that answers my question.” ‘After what she had said yesterday and the look on her face right now, yep. Worth it.’

She takes a few minutes to string together sentences of all curse words she can think up directing them at him, then sits back down. ‘Oh so totally worth it. Epic win. Put one the scoreboard board far Drake Walker.’ It takes her a bit, but she finally listens as he describes various art techniques and their major time periods. ‘How does remember all this?!’ “When in the nine hells did you actually get smart, Walker?” It has to be some sort of accident. Did you get your head pounded by another frat guy and it resulted in this miracle?!” Seething, “I’m not just a dumb piece of shit, you know Olivia!” ‘Hmmm, his intelligence, that was a fun button to push. I’ll remember that one.’ “Oh just shut up Olivia. Let's finish the art section and skip the western culture section. Then you can show yourself out.” “Fine.” She yelled. “Fine.” He yelled back. And before either knew it their lips were crashing together with Olivia’s hands grasping his shaggy brown hair. Like so many times before he slid her onto his lap first, as their tongues danced, his hands sliding up her thighs landing on her waist. And like every time before he stopped to asked her. And like every time before she answered with a yes.

He trails kisses from her shoulder blade, up her neck, across her jaw and their lips met again. She runs her tongue along his bottom lip, and as he opens his mouth his hands started to wander under her shirt moving up her stomach going up to… and then she goes tense and completely froze. Drake immediately stops looking at her for an answer. ‘I will not be some girl flitting between men. Especially when I actually care about a really good man. Done. Over.’ “No more. Not tonight, not ever Walker. I’m done. So many months wasted on you. Those months were all about living the freedom of college in my first semester. But that's it. That's all it was and ever will be, nothing.” Olivia gets up and gathers her things. ‘Fuck. Ouch Olivia. That was all it was? Damn.’ “Whatever Olivia. Whatever makes yourself feel better. Funny how it meant nothing, oh how many months later!” Drake is yelling while Olivia walks to the door. With her hand on the door nob she looks back. “What the hell has been wrong with me all these months.” ‘Oh no, you don't get walk out the door with that being the last words.’ Drake shrugs. “Great sex is great sex, friends with benefits?” They both look at each other for a long time, having an unspoken escalating argument. Finally Drake spits out, “See you Friday night when the group celebrates the end of midterms.” Olivia rubs her temples and answers in complete frustration. “Yes. See you then. We both care about all of our friends, Drake.” ‘Unfortunately, Walker, you have to be there.’ One last glare at each other. “But you and I, Drake, we will never be friends.” ‘Couldn't agree more.’ “Neither one of us would want to. Now get out of my room.” Olivia stomps out and slams the door.

As soon as she's out of Drake's room she heads down the hall to Liam's and pounds on the door. He opens it and she shoves him hard back into the room. He can't help but laugh at the look on her face. “I take it the study session went well?” Not saying a word she drops her things to the floor and slams the door shut. Liam quirks an eyebrow and before he can move she pushes him down on the bed crawling on top of him, straddling him as she immediately starts to unbutton his shirt tugging on it until she unfastens the last button. Liam sits up to shrug it off while Olivia grabs the hem of his undershirt pulling it off before he's even gotten the first shirt off. She pushes him back down, while he starts to speak, “Trust me, I’m not complaining but wh-“ Her lips are on his before he can finish. Her nails dig into his shoulders while his tongue runs over her bottom lip. She invites him in, soon tongues wrestling for dominance. Liam grabs her ass squeezing hard enough she yelps into his mouth. He loves that. His hands travel slowly up her hips, up her stomach and cup her breast while she begins to grind her hips on his. She pulls herself back up and throws her shirt to ground while he unfastens her bra which hits the ground as well.

Liam lavishes one breast nibbling and sucking on its bud until it's a hard peak, while he massages and twists the other. A moan rolls off her lips and he takes it as a sign to move to her other breast. Her taste drives him to wanting so.much.more. In an instant Liam is making quick work of the button and zipper of her jeans, sliding a hand down her pants rubbing her folds trough her panties. “You are so fucking wet for me.” Her eyes meet his as she responds in authoritative tone, “Up now. Time to get these pants off.” They stand and he slides her jeans and panties down while she uses his shoulder for balance kicking them off. She unbuttons and unzips his jeans then stands back, watching him pull them and his boxer briefs off.

Liam’s eyes rake her up and down, “Damn you're sexy. I can never get tired of seeing you like this.” Olivia just gives him a wicked grin as she slowly drops to her knees in front of him placing her hand around his hardened length, stroking it a few times before taking him into her mouth. “Shit.” Liam's head falls back as her tongue circles around his tip tasting the little bit that's already escaped him. He grabs a hold of her hair as her lips firmly surround him while moving him in and out. She lets out a deep moan against him as she moves. “Fuck, babe!” Liam begins to buck his hips while she takes him in fully. He feels himself hitting the back of her throat, while in his mind cursing and thanking at the time. ‘Not going to make it much longer if she doesn't stop this.’ He looks down and barely gets out with a husky voice. “Olivia, I,” he moans “You have to stop.” She looks up at him trough hooded eyes and he knows she isn't planning on stopping.

He gently starts pulling her back. She sighs against him one last time and lets go with a pop. “Liam, if you're stopping me from this you better do one hell of a job.” He whispers back, “I accept your challenge.” He grabs a condom while Olivia makes the decision to rest on her knees with her elbows down on the mattress. Liam turns and lets out a primal growl as his tongue meets her folds. Her breath hitches as he licks up to her nub while pushing a finger into her dripping wetness. He nibbles the sensitive spot with gentle pressure and circles it with his tongue. He slides in a second finger and moves them both back and forth. “Shit Liam, more! Now!” He sucks her harder as his slides in the third finger curling them just right reaching that spot which makes her knees weak. She arches her back and pushes herself into him. “Fuck! I’m…C…“ She yells his name and it's the best sound in his life. He gives her a moment while rubbing soft circles on her back. “Enjoy, a breath for a minute baby. We’re not finished.”

Waiting he licks and sucks his fingers clean as he strokes himself a few times before grabbing her hips sliding in his solid length. He waits a second as they adjust saying each other's name then he immediately starts with a hard thrust. He hears her throaty voice, “My, my. Impatient aren't we?” That’s all it takes for him to grab her hips firmly and thrust harder rocking back and forth as she moans his name over and over. They hit their rhythm and she pants “Harder Liam! Give me hard now! I need more of you!” ‘Shit, I’m barely hanging on as it is.’ Their skin slaps together as he reaches one hand around to wet his finger drawing tantalizing circles around her nub as he continues to thrust harder and harder. “Fuck Liam! Just…a…little…more...I’m, I’m-“ he begins to feel her grip around him start to tighten. “Liam, oh fuck. YES!” He sloppily thrusts twice more while she completely unravels. He stops holding himself back finding his own release. He smirks proudly as Olivia screams his name once more while they both ride out their waves of passion.

Soon they are falling onto the bed. Olivia grabs him close and lays her head on his chest as they work to slower their breaths while laying in their euphoria. “So, did I do one hell of a job? Enough to win your challenge?” Liam chuckles kissing the top of her head. “My god yes! I’ll happily lose that challenge to mind blowing sex any day. But, I don't lose other challenges.” He laughs as she kisses his chest and begins mindlessly running circles around his strong abs, while he looks at the ceiling twirling a piece of her long vibrant red hair around his fingers. Suddenly Olivia remembers the words she heard earlier “…Great sex is great sex. Friends with benefits?…” She raises to an elbow looking deep into Liam’s crystal sea blue eyes. “You know Liam, mind blowing is far superior to great.” He looks at her completely confused. “Just trust me here, babe. Mind blowing is so fucking superior to just great.” She smirks as she lays back down again resting her head on his chest. “Liam” she says into his chest with a kiss. “Yes babe?” “I think we should start seeing each other exclusively.” A few seconds later he kisses the top of her head and she can feel his smile. “Mmmmm, I like this decision of yours. A lot.”

A few weeks later after Spring Break, Maxwell, Olivia, and Drake are sitting in the Student Union waiting for Hana, Savannah, and Liam to show for their night out to celebrate the group’s reunion. While hanging out there Maxwell tilts his head to Olivia and wiggles his eyebrows, “I hear you and Liam are officially exclusive. Awesomeness!!! Now you guys can double with me and Savannah!” Olivia rolls eyes and flatly responds, “Oh, yay.” Maxwell smiles, “I know, right? It will be epic!” Drake sits back somewhat amused by the interaction. “Yeah, you four should start planning your first double date tonight.” Then he mumbles something about someone under his breath as quietly as he can, but Olivia notices. “Why Drake, are you jealous?” He is completely unfazed knowing she's just trying to push his buttons. Maxwell, on the other hand, grins from ear to ear. “Oh trust me Olivia, and let me assure you, he is most certainly not jealous. If Drake was actually under any kind of spell of your’s it's been bro-“ Drake snaps at him, “Beaumont! Why the hell are we celebrating tonight being back here for just more classes? Only you would think of something so ridiculous.” Maxwell looks over shaking his head, “This is about the six of us being back together after spring break, man. We gotta catch up.” Drake tilts his head backwards and shuts his eyes. “It was only a little over a week for gods sake.”

Olivia catches the extra sour tone in Drake’s voice. “I didn't know you could get any grumpier, Walker. What exactly is your extra problem? Are you going to continue to be such an ass all night? Staying away while radiating your extra bit of chilly venom.” Drake doesn't answer, but yet again Maxwell does. “He’s just pissed on an missed opportunity. Possibly a chance of a lifetime.” Maxwell is so focused on Olivia he doesn't register the rising anger on Drake’s face. “Ok, Olivia, so check this out. So you know how Drake stayed here over break and I got back a little earlier than the rest of you? We were in one of campus books stores, you know this campus has way too many all over the-,” “Focus Maxwell, and get this Walker story over with as fast as possible.” Olivia crosses her arms. ‘Ok, focusing and speed talking initiated. So me and Drake we’re chilling out in the book store when I see my old pal here intently staring off to something a few aisles over. I follow his line of sight and saw what he was checking out. His eyes were completely locked on this girl. I mean not blinking, breath hitching sort of thing. Anyway, while we all know that I have the lady love of my life, I’ll admit she was quite stunning. Long raven black hair, porcelain white skin, and these really deep piercing blue eyes. Drake's feet were glued to the floor when she moved to us and starts to look at the books next to him. I of course step out of the way, but not Drake here, he still can't move. So he’s standing like crazy still as she looks up to him to say excuse me or probably something like that, except she stops and stares at him. Complete radio silence. Eventually, I clear my throat and they snap out of their trance while I smoothly walk away, as you know how I do. So I buy my stuff and head outside to wait for Drake. While waiting I see the girl walkout with this huge smile and this dreamy look in those piercing blues. Suddenly, though, she stops in her tracks looking back to the store bewildered. I thought maybe she just forgot something, and I didn't even really think much about it as she leaves. She's gone when Drake walks out and I see he has nothing in his hands, totally forgotten to get what he needed to buy. Except Drake had a gigantic smile on his face. For real, Olivia, I had no idea a shit-eating grin was possible for our guy here. I figure he at least he found something in there, even if he forgot what he needed to buy.” Maxwell winks, “So I asked him to spill. And get this Olivia, come to find out he was so lost in her beauty he totally choked, like in the worst way. No name, no phone number, no dorm or sorority information. He was so lost in loveydovey-land all functioning abilities went out of his mind. He’s been extra grumpy, brooding, and not going anywhere or talking anyone since. He’s got it bad for her, but we have no idea who she is. But he did tell me that they’d talked the whole time after I left, feeling like there was mutual interest, and from what I saw when she walked out that store I’d completely agree. I’m a believer in love at first sight, enter my lady love into the story again, but if this girl had just stood there like a minute longer or if he had walked out a minute sooner, bam. He’d have a different story to tell right now.”

Drake was sitting with arms crossed, jaw clenched, and his lips pressed in a hard thin line. Finally he spoke, “You know I’ve actually been sitting here the whole time Maxwell. And furthermore, Beaumont, do you ever take a breath when talking, or even better yet, do you ever shut the fuck up?!” Olivia looks at Drake shaking her head. “Way to go dipshit. Try to find her again on a campus with around 20,000 undergrads, and that doesn't account for the number of graduate students either. Good luck with what sounds like the screwup of lifetime. She's the one that got away before you were close enough for her to get away.” Maxwell cuts in with, “Well, with what I saw, I’d venture to say he stared long enough he could definitely pick her out of a lineup, or better yet work with one of those sketch artist for a ‘Have you seen this girl?’ poster.” Olivia can't stop herself, doubled over in wild laughter, while Drake stands up with a force so intense the big bulky armchair he was sitting in moved a bit across the floor. Then shoving his hands in his pockets he picks a wall to sulk against.

Finally Liam, Savannah, and Hana show up; along with another girl. Hugs and kisses were given all around, except for Drake. They all felt an aura of something between rage, frustration, and “leave me the hell alone” radiating strongly off him. Hana introduced everyone to Allison, who she was set up with for a blind date over break. With everyone finally there Maxwell directs the group onward to his club of choice, and once there the couples hit the dance floor as Drake finds a table in a corner for the night. He never was one that went out of his way to dance, but he definitely would with any girl that caught is eye. Uncharacteristically, though, this night he wasn't looking for any random girls to dancing with, and he wasn't there too long before he let his friends know he was heading back to campus calling it a night. Which of course Olivia took advantage of and starting to call him “grandpa” at every chance she got everyday afte

A few months later, Spring Term is finished, bringing the group the end of their Freshman year. They all decide to stay on campus together for the Summer Semester to have a stellar time doing everything college kids can think up to do. And damn did they make the most of their freedom. Liam and Olivia had taken a short trip right after exams were over, but back in a few days. Maxwell and Savannah basically lived together most of the summer, while Liam and Olivia out right lived with each other. Hana and Allison were adorable together and Alli fit in with the group extremely well. Most surprising to everyone though was that Liam and Olivia actually enjoyed spending time with Maxwell and Savannah. Savannah was so much fun and just lovely, but if Maxwell were to survive the summer, Olivia could only take meeting up with them in small doses.

Drake, however, chose to take a course over the summer which everyone else thought was crazy, but it kept him busy. With his course work he wasn't around the group as much, but he did join them for their antics when he could. They all noticed, though, that he hadn't gotten out of that funk he’d been in since spring break; but honestly he had always been the curmudgeon of the group.

And like that, Sophomore Year found them.

[sintheyokai]

(LB: Devil’s Child) Chapter 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, We Heard Footsteps on Stone Floor

Note: Both Yorkshire and Lancashire accents will be used for any 'Baker' dialogue as no one seems to be able to know what Lucy's accent is (The wiki says Lancashire, but others say Yorkshire. Fuck it, Imma do both).

Word Count: 5028

Time- 7:39 a.m.

Lucy sighed in relief as the first sibling, Luna, opened her eyes.

After finding them, she had quickly brought them in and woken her mother to alert her. Her mother was overjoyed, quickly making herbal remedies to heal and soothe them. Lucy then called Fauna, who, within seconds, was home and ready to receive orders. Lucy had sent her out to get food, and without hesitation, Fauna had ran out the door.

Luna sat up before looking around in fear of her new surroundings. Her eyes then landed on Lucy.

"Lu-Lucille?" she said, "Or d'ya go by Lucy?"

Lucy smiled, "It's Lucy. You remember me, right?"

Luna nodded, quickly noticing Arianna working on more remedies in the kitchen. Her eyes widen, and she shook the other two bodies beside her.

"Loosha, Lucas, wake up! Mummy's 'ere, an' Lucy too!" she cried out to them.

At those words, Loosha opened her eyes and lifted her head to see if her sister's words were true. Slowly, Lucas followed suit. As they saw that their mother and sister in front of them, Loosha began to cry.

"M-Mummyyy!" she sobbed, "Sissyyy! We were scaaared!" she continued to wail into her hands, Luna rubbing her back. Lucas then spoke, "Were... ya lookin' fer us?".

Arianna came back with three steaming mugs. "Of course we were, honey!" she exclaimed, giving the cups to her children, "Or at least, I was."

All eyes turned to Lucy, and in that moment, she felt more shame than she ever had before.

"I never got to..." she mumbled, "Loopy kinda took over for a good eight years," she turned to her siblings, "Y'all remember Loopy, right?"

Loosha tensed, and Lucy knew why.

"I've made 'er promise t' never attack ya again, go' it?" she said.

Loosha smiled nervously, "A-Aye..."

Suddenly, Fauna bursted inside, kicking down the door, "I'M HOME. You have NO idea how much of a pain in the ass that was!"

She set down various bags of food, some beginning to break and spill, Seriph and the other jaguars following her, bags in mouths.

"I kept tellin' 'em," she huffed, "I kept sayin', 'Ya know, we just found some people that kinda desperately need food.' and they were just like, 'Sarree Mess, wee can't let people iin until 6:30.' Bunch of assholes."

She grabbed a bushel of apples out of the paper bag, quickly tearing it to grab a single one. She tossed it at Lucas while Arianna went to make something of the new groceries.

"Eat," Fauna practically demanded, "I've never seen someone in need of it as badly as you, bud."

As much as no one wanted to admit it, Lucas's condition was in desperate need of repair. He wore nothing but a baggy, oversized pair of deep green shorts that were tied to his waist with a shoelace. His skin clung to his bones, clearly defining them. His eyes were sunken, bags as dark as bruises and deep cuts adorning his unnaturally pale skin. What's more, no one could ignore the large words that had been sewn into his right arm and collarbone:

Beast

Savage

Just the sight of those terrible words pushed Lucy and her mother to the brink of tears.

"I..." Lucy began saying as Lucas almost reluctantly began to eat, "I see ya still 'ave th' words..."

They all looked down until Loosha whispered, "Do you?"

Without hesitation, Lucy removed the long sleeved pajama top she wore to reveal the words in both halves of her left arm:

Freak

Witch

"Yes," Lucy said firmly, "I do."

Slowly, Luna looked up and lifted the rag dress that covered the words on her legs, the words on both of her collarbones and left arm already in sight:

Wretch

Creature

Devil's Child

Satan's Spawn

Fucking Trickster

After Luna, Loosha shyly raised her arm, displaying the large "X" sewn into her left forearm.

Arianna suddenly came back with ham and cheese sandwiches before a look of realization dawned upon her face.

"Where's Lucifer, babies?" she said, almost sounding as if she was about to panic. Lucy's siblings flinched and bowed their heads again.

"We-We're sorry, Mummy..." Loosha said, "We tried t' escape wiv' 'im, but we got caught, an' Lucifer 'ad t' run. By th' time we freed ourselves again, 'e were gone..."

Arianna sighed, "Oh dear... Well, we'll look for him together." she said

This brought smiles to the Bakers' faces. Lucy looked at the clock. 8:15

"Oh bugger! I go'a get t' work!" she exclaimed.

Her siblings's eyes lit up.

"I wanna come!" all three said in unison, looking at each other before Lucas piped up, "Please, Luce? We really wanna see where ya work!"

Lucy considered it a bit before giving them a single nod, "A'ight, but ya gotta eat an' ge' dressed right fast! Borrow my clothes upstairs!"

Fauna, apparently hearing the entire conversation from upstairs (at which Lucy didn't even know when she went up), came down, tossing various articles of clothing across the room.

"Hope you're alright with changing down here," she said, "Moro found a bug and freaked. Scratched the fuckin' toilet pipes to hell and back, so there's water all over the damn place."

Lucas grabbed the sleeveless police shirt on top of the pile and put it on. Him being as skinny as he was, it was baggy for him and reached down to the middle of his thighs. Luna chuckled before removing the rope and rag dress she wore and grabbing a knee high, deep scarlet, puff sleeved dress belonging to Lucy. Loosha came last, choosing a deep blue longskirt and floral magenta camisole.

Mrs. Barde handed each of them a ham and cheese sandwich and an apple. "Make sure they eat." she said to Lucy, who nodded in response.

"Alrighty then!" Lucy exclaimed, "We ready?". Her siblings nodded vigorously.

"Then off we go!"

***

Time- 8:46 a.m.

As they approached Scotland Yard, Lucas gasped.

"Wot'djoo ferget this time, Lucas?" Loosha turned to her older brother.

But Lucas had not forgotten anything. He turned to Lucy before letting out a soft, hoarse whisper, "You work at th' Yard?"

Lucy nodded, Lucas's eyes sparkling in response.

"You could arrest Daddy?" he asked.

Lucy's heart felt like it was being twisted and torn apart. Oh how desperately she wished she could say yes. But she shook her head, "No, Luke. I can't do owt about Dad. 'e's in Lancashire, we're in London." she saw his face fall, "I'm really sorry..." she added as they reached the door and walked inside.

When Lucy walked in with her siblings, needless to say, she got a few odd glances. The most coming from Blaine Dartwright, one of the Yard's top inspectors (aside from Alfendi of course). Lucy didn't know him all that much, but she did hear the many, many colorful things Alfendi had to say about him.

"Lucy..." he suddenly said, "Should you really be bringing them inside while they're bloody?"

Before she could tell him he was being rude, Loosha piped in.

"If ya're talkin' 'bout th' scars, mista, they're days owd!" she chirped.

The room was quiet, save for the awkward cough. Then Blaine took a step towards them.

Lucas, immediately on the defensive, growled like an animal. Blaine stepped back, both in fear and disgust.

"Lucy, as much as I dislike being rude, I suggest he," he pointed at Lucas, "Stays outside..."

Lucy's breath hitched, her face growing hot and her blood beginning to boil. A beastly, guttural growl released itself from her throat. Her voice became so deep, so intimidating, that it took her a moment to realize it was indeed her speaking.

"Th' next time I 'ear you insult my brother will be your last..." she bared her teeth, her lip curling upwards in a disgusted manner, "I'd watch my mouth if I were you..."

Regaining her composure, she led her siblings to the Mystery Room, blood still boiling.

She entered the Mystery Room, Alfendi hard at work inside.

"Ah, there we go," he said cheerfully, "At our normal time, I seeeeee...." his voice trailed away as he looked up to see the three new arrivals. He glanced at all of them before returning his attention to Lucy. "Are these clients?" he asked.

All three stepped back in minor fear at the word "client" Lucy raised a hand in reassurance, "'e jus' wants t' know if ya 'ave a case." she told them softly. She then turned back to Alfendi "No, Prof, these are my siblin's. They wanted t' see where I were working, so I brought 'em along. I were 'opin' they could-Lucas?"

She noticed the boy cautiously approaching Alfendi, almost animal-like. Alfendi gave the youth a tender smile. Lucas paused, put off by the expression. He recovered quickly, however, and continued prowling towards the inspector.

"It's alright," Alfendi soothed, "I'm Lucy's friend. My name is Alfendi." Suddenly, his hair shifted red, and Potty stood up. Panicked by both the change and Alfendi's height, Lucas retreated, scampering behind Lucy. He whispered in her ear, so soft she could barely hear him.

"T-Tall..." he said, voice trembling, "Like Daddy..." Potty tilted his head in confusion, raising an eyebrow at the boy.

"C'mon now." he said as calmly as he was capable of, "I don't bite."

He opened one of the desk drawers and dug around in it. He pulled out a brown paper bag and held it out for Lucas to grab.

"Here. You can have my lunch," he said, "I don't need it."

No one went to claim the offered treat. Finally, Lucy looked at Lucas. "Go on," she said, "It's a'ight, ya know."

Lucas slowly creeped back to Alfendi, sniffing the bag before promptly snatching it and hurrying back to his family.

Lucy sighed, "Sorry Prof, it's jus'..." she paused, "We had a lot o' problems wi' tall folk. Not a real good past, really."

Alfendi smiled apologetically, switching back to Placid, "I see..." he said, "Well, I hope to become an exception to this fear." He then turned to Lucas, "Lucas, was it? It is very nice to meet you." he held out his hand in a friendly manner.

Lucas growled, it slowly becoming a rabid snarl. Lucy gently put her hand on his shoulder.

"Ya don' 'afta growl, Luke..." she said softly, "Th' Prof'll listen."

The growling stopped immediately, Lucas not being used to hearing such a phrase. His face soon became overcome with shame and anxiety. Finally he spoke, just loud enough to be heard by everyone.

"T-Ta, Sir..." he said, twiddling his thumbs, "I'm-I'm right sorry for gooin' and havin' a benny like an animal or a babby..." he mumbled.

Alfendi smiled, "It's fine, Lucas." he turned to Lucy, "Might you introduce me to your other siblings?" he asked.

Lucy nodded, "This is Luna," she said, gesturing to the black haired girl, "And this is Loosha!" she then gestured to the curly ginger. As Alfendi continued to look and listen, he began to wonder why he hadn't noticed several things.

For starters, he hadn't noticed how similar all four Bakers looked. Lucas was almost an exact replica of Lucy, the only difference being his gender and height. His hair was unkempt and mid length, his eyes the same shade of bright red he had grown accustomed to. Luna also shared this bright red trait, but instead of straight, ginger locks, she had long, wavy, jet black hair tied up in a low ponytail. Loosha was small, several inches shorter than Lucy and Luna, but just a few centimeters taller than Lucas. She had ear length, bright ginger-orange curls and deep blue eyes. If it wasn't for her curls, she may have been mistaken for a younger version of her mother.

The other thing, the most obvious thing, that Alfendi had failed to notice were the many scars that adorned the children's bodies. It wasn't just words, but also what appeared to be slashes, claw marks and even stab wounds. Their eyes were slightly sunken, and their hands bled slightly from the knuckles, clearly having been severely beaten.

"Well, it's very nice to meet you two as well." he said, as Lucy had finished speaking, "Lucy, may I speak with you for a moment?" he asked leading her to the side room. "You three may look through anything you like as long as everything's put back in it's original place." he said to the Bakers. He pulled Lucy inside, closing the door behind him.

"I assume your father was tall?" was his first question.

Lucy nodded, "'Bout as tall as you, Prof." she said.

Alfendi thought for a few minutes. "I wish to ask your siblings a few questions," he said, "I trust you're alright with that?"

Lucy nodded, "As long as ya don't push 'em too 'ard."

Alfendi reassured her that he wouldn't, and released her.

"Luna?" he called out, "Might you come in here for a moment?"

The girl looked up from a case file, which Alfendi soon recognized as the Potsby-Mahn case. Without saying a word, Luna entered the room, and Alfendi closed the door once more.

"Luna, I'm going to ask you a few questions," he said, "You do not, in any way, need to feel entitled to answer. If a question makes you uncomfortable, don't answer."

Luna nodded in understanding, formally taking a seat in a foldable chair.

"First off," Alfendi began, "Do you know of Lucy's split personality?"

Luna nodded quickly, lips practical sealed shut, before gesturing that the others did too.

"I see. Well, Loopy Lily told me that your father was the one to abuse you. Can you confirm this?"

Luna's eyes widened, and she immediately put both of her hands to her mouth, forcing herself to keep quiet. But, as if a mysterious force was at work, her hands slowly removed themselves.

"I-I can't say..." she whispered, "'e-'e'd kill me if I did..."

Alfendi nodded in understanding. Besides, Luna had unknowingly answered his question.

Loopy had not lied.

"Alright," he said, "My other question is how your relationship with your immediate family? Siblings, parents, the like?" Luna seemed confused at the sudden subject change but answered anyway.

"W-Well, me an' my siblin's ge' along jus' fine! We always 'ad a lot o' fun as kids. My mum were good too. She never yelled an' would give us lots o' second chances, an' 'er baking were th' best! Then there's 'er brother, Uncle Tony. 'e's prolly one o' th' best uncles ya could ever meet! 'e le' us play wi' some o' 'is owd toys when we were li'le. 'e really were fantastic!"

As she finished, Alfendi took notice of how happy Luna sounded whilst describing her family. But there was someone missing. Someone important regarding his interrogation.

"Aaand... What about your father?" he decided to risk the question.

Luna winced and shrunk back slightly, her previous joy vanishing instantly.

"I... I'd rather not talk abou' 'im." she whispered.

"Alright, reasonable." Alfendi said, "That'll be all my questions for now. May you please let Loosha know that I wish to speak with her?"

Luna nodded, going completely silent once more before getting up and walking out. A few moments later, Loosha skipped in, a big smile across her face.

"You wonted ta see me, Mr. Prof, Sir?" she chirped.

Alfendi chuckled, "Yes, Loosha, I have a few questions. Please, sit."

Loosha didn't so much as sit as she did jump on the chair before leaping off and properly sitting down, legs spread and hands between them. Alfendi held back a pleased snort.

He decided to start off with the last question he had asked Luna.

"How is your relationship with your father?"

Suddenly, the metal chair bent. In the spur of the moment, Loosha had gained such strength from her immense fear that she had dented the poor object.

"Don't ever mention 'im." her voice grew dark and beastly.

Alfendi was concerned, but kept his calm.

"Alright, I promise." he said.

Loosha calmed down, before giving a somber look of shame, "Aw, 'ell, wot's th' use if I don't tell ya?" she exclaimed, "I assume ya can tell tha' I 'ate my dad?"

Alfendi nodded. There was a stillness in the room until Loosha continued, a dark shadow over her eyes.

"'e were 'orrible." she whispered, Alfendi already sensing the intense anger in her voice, "Wretched, disgusting, 'ard core religious piece o' shit!... God..." she grabbed the chair again, just as tight as before, "Ya don't know 'ow much I wanna spit in 'is face... 'ow much I wanna clobber it an' stamp on it until it bleeds. Bleeds an' bleeds until all 'e can do is lie down an' bleed ta death outta 'is wretched eyesore of a face."

Alfendi made note of this behavior. Luna seemed shy about her father, while Loosha had a great, burning anger festering inside her. He could only imagine Lucas's reaction.

"I see," he replied, "Well, I apologize for mentioning him. You may leave now. Please tell Lucas to come in."

Loosha did not budge. Rather, she gave him a suspicious look.

"Tha's not all yer questions. Ya can't fool this girl, Mr. Alfendi Prof Sir!" she exclaimed defiantly.

Alfendi was surprised at this young adult's perception.

"True, but my second question involves the one you've forbidden me to mention, so I won't ask it." he explained.

Loosha shook her head violently, "I can 'andle it!"

Alfendi sighed, "Alright." he said, "Loopy Lily, I assume you know her, told me that you all were abused. Do you possibly know why?"

Loosha took a deep breath through her nose, "I'm forbi'en ta say why Lucille, Lucas, an' Luna were beaten, but I can say that me an' my owder brother, Lucifer, were beaten for defendin' th' triplets."

As much as both Placid and Potty were horrified, Placid focused on what Loosha had said about the three red eyed Bakers.

"Triplets, you say?" Alfendi asked. He mused for a bit. He'd have to ask Lucas about that later. "Alright", he said, "That's officially all my questions, so you may tell Lucas to come in now."

Loosha nodded, "A'ightee!" and she skipped back out, "By th' way, that Roscoe Strapping guy looked like a complete douche!"

Alfendi snorted and doubled over in laughter. He was still snickering when Lucas walked in for questioning.

"Ah, Lucas!" he managed to exclaim, "I probably have the most questions for you."

Lucas, quite literally, barked in response.

"That actually leads me to my first question," he said, "Your father... Did he force you to act like an animal?"

Lucas whimpered, before slowly nodding. He spoke, "A lo' o' kids didn't listen t' me... Neither did Daddy..." he said shyly, "So...So I started growlin' an' barkin' t' ge' attention..."

Alfendi noticed that tears were gathering in the corners of the poor boy's eyes.

"It's alright", he cooed, "He can't hurt you here."

Lucas nodded in understanding.

"Are you alright with me asking a few more questions?" Alfendi asked, "They're mostly personal."

Lucas nodded, smiling a little.

"Alright," Alfendi said, continuing on, "Loosha told me you, Luna, and Lucy were triplets. Can you confirm?"

Lucas nodded vigorously. "I'm jus' really short because-" he paused abruptly, a sudden look of fear crossing over his face, "A-Actually, I-I-I can't say why I'm real short... S-Sorry..." he bowed his head.

Alfendi held up a gentle hand, "It's fine. That somewhat answers my question anyhow." And it wasn't a lie.

Malnourishment

Lucas looked up in surprise, "Really?"

Alfendi nodded, and continued the interrogation. "Do you believe you may have been neglected more than your other family members?" he asked cautiously.

"No." Lucas's reply was quick and firm, "I gave my siblings care when I were th' one 'oo needed it. I wanted them t' come out alive at all costs."

"I see." the inspector paused, pondering whether or not to ask his next question. Before he actually could, however, Potty asked it for him.

"I assume you weren't the one to sew those words into your skin?"

Lucas looked horrified, slowly putting his hands up to grab the sides of his bowed head. Placid wrenched control from Potty before speaking.

"I'm terribly sorry..." he panicked, "I was unsure if I should've asked, and he asked anyway."

Lucas looked up, releasing his head. "I-It's fine..." he mumbled, "You'd be right anyway. I jus' can't tell ya 'oo did it."

There was a still silence. Suddenly, Lucas asked, "D-Do you...?" he paused, "Is your personality split too? S-Sorry for soundin' rude..."

Alfendi was surprised with Lucas's fear of asking the question. It was much more than what he was used to. "Yes." He answered, "There's me and him."

"Mkay..." Lucas mumbled, "S-So, is th' red'ead the original?" he asked, "Lucille always said that, for 'er, the original always tends to stay int' shadows of their other personalities. They don't come out often..."

Alfendi's surprise grew. "That's-" he was near speechless, trying to gather the right words to say, "An incredible thought process-! I'm quite shocked you didn't assume I was the original. Many people do!"

Lucas mouth went slightly agape, "I got it right?" he whispered. Alfendi nodded, causing the boy to go bright eyed in joy.

"However, you're fear to question my personality brings me to another question," Alfendi calmed down, "Were you not allowed to ask questions at home?"

Lucas looked down before nodding, "Mummy let us ask questions... gave us a basic talk when we were li'le... But Daddy..." his eyes went fearful and his arms crossed so that he tightly hugged himself, "Daddy never let us question owt... 'e'd threaten to sew our mouths shut if we didn't shut up. And I think you'd know if 'e were serious..."

Alfendi nodded, "I understand."

A still silence took over the room once more.

"'ow..." Lucas suddenly began, "Wot traumatized ya into creation?"

Alfendi became slightly uncomfortable, but decided to answer the boy's question. "Brainwashing..."

Lucas looked at him in confusion, "Ya don't seem th' type to get easily brainwashed..." A sudden look of pain came over his face, "Unless... oh right... you were shot..."

Alfendi was surprised that Lucas knew this, "How did you know?"

"I-I were reading some files... One from four years ago, an' one from five months." he said, "Th' one from four years 'ad an updated document about how you were shot and put in a coma..." he continued, "Then th' one from five months said that someone named Justin Lawson 'ad brainwashed ya while ya were in tha' coma..."

"I see..." Alfendi mused, "Well, I'm glad you're not too frightened of either of us." he gently smiled. Lucas giggled and grinned.

"Well, that's all my questions for you. Thank y-"

CRASH!

"Oh, SHUT ya CAKE'OLE!" a loud voice was heard on the other side of the door. Upon opening it, Alfendi was met with a sight.

Loosha was standing on Alfendi's desk, the chair that had been placed at it being thrown at Luna.

"I'm jus' sayin, that's not where it were!" Luna shouted, "It were ont' left o' th' coffee mug!"

"YA SHUT YA GOB BEFORE I GRAB YA BY THE LUGS UN CLOBBER YA! IT WERE UNDERNEATH THE DAMN THING!" Loosha screeched

"That makes nay nouse!" Luna retorted, "Why would-"

Suddenly, Lucy pounded both fists on her desk. "Y'all stop yer fratchin'! Th' lot o' ya're moitherin' me, un I'm po fagged!" She shouted, "I need a tram stopper, I'm spittin' feathers for a goddamn mocha, and I'm wacked! But I gotta get this damn papperwork done, UN I CAN'T WORK WI' YAWL'S GOD FORSAKEN FOCKIN' BICKERIN'!!!"

Loosha grabbed an empty file folder and swatted her older sister. "YA MET AS WELL SAY 'FOCK TH' PAPPERWORK!'" she jumped onto Lucy's desk in a single bound, pointing her now weaponized folder in a menacing and threatening way, "I'LL FEIGHT TH' LO' O' YOU GRONNIES!!"

Lucy stood up violently, face flaming red. In an instant, she elbowed Loosha behind her knee, causing the girl to collapse and fall on the floor.

"That sounds loike a challenge, it does! A GOD. DAMN. FOCKIN'. CHALLENGE!!" she shouted.

With that, she leaped across the desk onto Loosha. And in less than half a minute, the biggest shitstorm in the Baker family occurred. Potty, coming out at the time, began videotaping the event.

He'd be showing this to his sister very soon...

A/N: Lancashire terms

*Gob/Cakehole- Mouth *Lugs- Ears *Clobber-  An item of clothing; To hit someone/something *Nay- No *Nouse- Sense *Fratching- Arguing *Moithering- Annoying *Po fagged- Exhausted *Tram stopper- A thick sandwich *Spitting feathers- Thirsty *Wacked- Tired *Met- Might *Feight- Fight *Gronnies- Grandmas

***

Time- 4:39 p.m.

Alfendi looked up at his assistant, currently hard at work. After the whole, "Baker fiasco" scenario, everything was picked up by a wailing Loosha (who had been burned with Al's coffee), a Lucas with splinters and blood coming out of his head, and a very ashamed, very apologetic Lucy. Luna had cowered in a corner the entire time, scared to death of being hit with a flying chair, book or even pen. He nearly chuckled at the memory of Loopy suddenly coming out and nearly ripping out an entire cupboard door with a crazed smile ("Yawl an' yer plain ass weapons, I'LL SHOW YA SOME GOOD SHIT!"). That was when Lucas tried to knock her out with a chair.

It failed quite miserably, to say the least.

But it was calm now, everyone working on the paperwork of their most recent case (in which Alfendi had learned that all the Bakers were very perceptive). However, Lucy seemed to have forgotten what day it was.

"Lucy, isn't it Wednesday?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

Loosha answered for her sister, "Aye! That it be!"

"Don't you leave work early? I can handle this you know."

Lucy suddenly looked up, "Really?" she then looked at the clock, "Shit! Wendy's Wednesdays, right!" she dashed about the room, grabbing the things she needed before heading out. "Lucas, Luna, Loosha! C'mon! Don't be gormless!"

Luna and Lucas rushed out with her, but Loosha stood at the door a little before giving Alfendi a mischievous smile.

"I'll start plannin' th' weddin' once Luce's up t'stick~" she said, before dashing out the door to catch up with her siblings, leaving Alfendi wide eyed and red cheeked.

Loosha's words had become a thought that would no longer leave his head.

*Gormless- Slow

*Up t'stick- Pregnant

***

After about fifteen minutes of running and nearly getting run over by drunk drivers and cyclists, the Bakers stood in front of a small, nearly hidden cafe.

El Café de Mamá

"Mama's Coffee..." said a quiet voice. Lucas, Luna, and Loosha turned to see a very familiar expression.

"Lucille!" Loosha exclaimed, smiling widely at the bright red eyed girl.

"Did.. one o' th' others bring me 'ere...?" Lucille asked shyly. Loosha nodded cheerfully, "Aye! Lucy!" she responded.

Lucille gave them a weak, almost pained smile before shuffling towards the door. "I-I work 'ere." she stated, "But I usually leave my stuff int' lockers. Y-Ya wouldn't mind it if..." her voice trailed off. Lucas answered her question.

"Sure! We'll watch yer stuff while ya work! Wot are siblin's for?"

Lucille smiled in response, a bit wider this time, opening the door.

"Llegas tarde, Lucille." The woman at the counter said once they entered.

Lucille bowed her head in utter shame, "Lo sé, y lo siento..." she muttered loud enough.

The woman waved as if to brush it all off, "Está bien, Lucille, ¡está bien!" She then seemed to notice the others behind Lucille, "¿Tus hermanos?" she asked. Lucille nodded. The woman at the counter then gave the Bakers a warm, friendly smile, "Hello" she said. Her accent was rather thick, but even so, they understood her. "I assume you don't speak Spanish?" she asked. Luna shook her head.

"Unfortunately, no." she said, "We didn't get that luxury..." The woman nodded in understanding. Lucille gestured to the woman, "Guys, this is M-Mariana," she said, "O-One o' my friends 'ere...". They said hi before Mariana turned to Lucille.

"Tus cosas están en la parte posterior, como siempre." she said. Lucille nodded in understanding and headed to the back room. Mariana returned her attention to the children, "I can seat you in her section, if you want." she offered. Loosha frowned, "But we're broker than poor jokes..." she said.

Mariana smiled, "On the house! As a treat!" she exclaimed. Suddenly, Lucille came back, a black bag in hand. She wore a long sleeved, collared shirt that flared a bit at sleeve's end, and a black knee-high skirt that also flared out slightly. She also wore thin white tights underneath the same brown and white Oxfords that Lucy wore. Her hair was tied up in mini pigtails with white ribbons, and she had put green contacts on.

Loosha looked at her sibling oddly, "Contacts? Where'dja get those?" she asked.

Lucille flushed, "M-Mariana..." she stuttered, "Mariana gave them t' me so that I could-um-hide my eyes from people..."

All three Bakers frowned. "Lucille, your eyes are fine!" Loosha tried to comfort her sister. Lucille flinched. "Not to Daddy they were..." she whispered. Loosha immediately took up a defensive pose.

"Daddy were an arse! Daddy doesn't matter anymore, an' 'e can't 'urt us!" she shouted, gaining the attention of the only four diners. Lucille bowed her head, "I wish that were true..." she mumbled, "But ya know 'e'll come runnin' back to search for us... And when 'e finds us..." A sudden look of terror came across her face as she hugged herself, "'e'll murder us where we stand."

It was at this moment it began to rain, and the Bakers knew that they were not out of the woods yet. Their father still sought out for their blood, even as they spoke. If anything, neither of them could even trust each other, as someone may have told their father of their whereabouts.

Why, in this moment of terror induced silence, save for the storm outside, they failed to notice the black haired man outside the window, fleeing from an unknown entity in the pouring rain...