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yeolsaintlaurent · 7 months

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Nocturnal Reverie ch.4 [PCY]

pairing - chanyeol x fem reader

genre - mature, smut, angst

themes - power imbalance, romance, crime, justice, class divide, politics, sex

synopsis - In the sprawling, dystopian city of Emberhaven, where power and corruption reign supreme, the lives of two unlikely individuals collide in a tale of passion, intrigue, and moral reckoning. Chanyeol, an enigmatic and wealthy scion of the city's elite, finds himself captivated by the elusive Y/N, a cunning and resourceful thief who navigates the treacherous underworld of Emberhaven. Their first encounter, sparked by a chance meeting in a luxurious club called The Velvet Lounge, sets the stage for a whirlwind romance amidst a backdrop of crime, politics, and danger.

warnings - sex, public sex, fingering, blowjob, humiliation(?), mention of punishment, exhibitionism, name calling, slight degradation

A/N - Hi my lovelies!!!! My first time writing smut and it has been an adventure. This chapter is a bit longer than the previous ones, but for good reason ;) I really hope you guys like this chapter. As always, let me know what you guys think <3

Chapter Four: Unveiled Desires

Two days later, on a crisp Friday morning, Y/N awoke to the persistent chime of her alarm. She groggily reached over to silence the device, her eyes catching the name she had given it—"Event at Velvet Lounge with the Cocky Flirt…date(?!?)." A blush crept onto her cheeks as memories of her encounter with Chanyeol resurfaced.

In the privacy of her room, she couldn't deny the undeniable truth—she found him undeniably attractive. His flirtatious banter had left a lingering impression, a magnetic pull that drew her thoughts back to their shared moments. She chuckled softly to herself, recognizing the absurdity of it all.

As she went through her morning routine, her thoughts drifted to the upcoming night. It was an escape, a brief respite from the shadows that clung to her existence. One night of fun couldn't hurt, she reasoned, especially when she had more pressing matters to attend to.

Tomorrow, she was set to meet an anonymous buyer who had expressed an interest in the Fabergé eggs she had liberated from the corrupt politician's mansion. The text message had come from one of her contacts, and the offer was too tempting to resist. Money, after all, held the keys to power in a city where survival was a daily battle.

She fed Kat, her faithful feline companion, and then stepped onto the balcony. Her eyes were drawn to the spot where she had exchanged words with Chanyeol. A soft smile tugged at her lips as she remembered their playful banter. Kat joined her, purring contentedly as he nuzzled against her.

With a sigh, Y/N admitted to her feline confidant, "I don't know what I'm getting myself into, Kat, but I hope tonight with Chanyeol will be worth it."

Resolute in her decision, she selected her attire for the night—a long, black dress with a daring thigh-high slit. The dress cinched at her waist, accentuating her figure, while a satin corset emphasized her curves. She applied smokey eye makeup, a hint of mystique in her gaze, and tied her hair in an elegant updo secured by an enamel claw clip. Her lipstick, a sultry shade of dark brownish red, completed the look.

The hours passed slowly, anticipation coiling within her like a tightly wound spring. As evening descended upon the city, Y/N readied herself for the night ahead, a night that promised to unveil desires long suppressed.

The rain fell steadily, casting a shimmering sheen on the city's pavements as Chanyeol approached the Velvet Lounge. The club stood like a monolithic titan amidst the urban gloom, a beacon for those seeking refuge from the relentless grind of their lives. As he neared the entrance, the line of eager clubgoers stretched out into the rain, waiting for their turn to be granted passage into this oasis of pleasure and escape.

But Chanyeol was no ordinary patron. A nod to the bouncers was all it took for him to be ushered past the queue, through the velvet ropes, and into the dimly lit interior. The atmosphere inside was electric, the air infused with the promise of excitement and revelry. Neon lights danced across the faces of patrons as they lost themselves in the hypnotic rhythm of the music.

His first stop was, as always, the bar. There, behind the polished mahogany counter, was Suho, the master of libations and the unofficial head of the Velvet Lounge. Bartending was more than a job for him; it was a front row seat to the secrets, confessions, and vulnerabilities of the city's elite.

Chanyeol greeted Suho with a nod, a silent acknowledgment of their unspoken camaraderie. Suho, his sharp eyes missing nothing, mixed Chanyeol's preferred cocktail—a blend of whiskey and bitters, a concoction that carried the weight of anticipation and desire.

As Suho slid the glass towards him, he couldn't help but offer a sly smile. "Special night, Chanyeol?"

Chanyeol, his eyes scanning the room, responded with a nonchalant shrug. "A night like any other, dude."

An hour passed, and Chanyeol's gaze remained fixed on the entrance. Impatience gnawed at him, and he couldn't shake the anticipation that had gripped him since their last encounter. Suho, sensing his restlessness, leaned in slightly, his voice carrying a hint of teasing curiosity. "Maybe this one isn't taken by your charms."

Chanyeol's confidence didn't waver. "She'll come."

Just as he finished his sentence, Suho's eyes widened, and a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. He uttered something cheeky under his breath, a cryptic comment that hinted at the surprise that awaited Chanyeol. As Chanyeol turned to follow Suho's gaze, he saw her.

There, across the room, stood Y/N, her presence commanding attention even amidst the throng of revelers. Their eyes locked, a magnetic pull that transcended the distance between them. The rain-soaked city had conspired to bring them together once more, and Chanyeol's heart quickened with anticipation.

As Y/N settled into the plush seat beside him, Chanyeol couldn't resist the urge to rise and greet her like a true gentleman. He captured her hand delicately, his lips brushing against her knuckles in a tender kiss. His voice was laden with a playful but genteel tone. "Y/N, you look positively radiant tonight."

Her response was a captivating smile, a subtle acknowledgment of the compliment. She settled into the seat with an air of confidence, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Suho, ever the perceptive bartender, had already begun crafting her preferred drink—a tantalizing blend of sweet and sour that perfectly suited her taste.

Chanyeol's breath ghosted over Y/N's ear as he whispered, his voice a velvet caress, "You're making it hard to focus on anything else tonight."

Y/N's response was equally soft, her tone dripping with seductive confidence, "That's the plan. Can you handle it, Chanyeol?" The atmosphere seemed to shimmer around them, the club's dim lighting casting an alluring glow over their figures.

Chanyeol's eyes, dark pools of intensity, remained fixed on Y/N, their depths betraying the simmering passion beneath the surface. Meanwhile, Y/N's gaze held a playful challenge, a glint of mischief dancing in her eyes. As the music pulsed through the air, their closeness seemed to create a magnetic force, drawing them inexorably nearer. Chanyeol's hand brushed against Y/N's, the electric contact sending a shiver down their spines. It was a dance of seduction, every word and movement a carefully choreographed step in their tantalizing game.

Chanyeol, raising an eyebrow, asked with a hint of playfulness, "What's your poison tonight, darling?" Y/N playfully retorted, "I thought I'd stick to you for my intoxication." Their exchange was charged with playful tension, each word and gesture drawing them closer together. Chanyeol couldn't resist the temptation to throw in a bit of cheekiness. "I'm warning you, I can be quite irresistible when I want to be," he quipped. Y/N's eyes danced with mock innocence as she replied, "Oh, Chanyeol, you underestimate my resistance."

Chanyeol observed the dangerous look in Y/N's eyes, and he couldn't help but be intrigued. His voice dipped, "You've got a dangerous look in your eyes. What's on your mind, Y/N?" With a wicked smile, Y/N replied, "A night of mischief, perhaps?" Their intimate conversation felt like a thrilling game of cat and mouse. "You know, your eyes are giving away your secrets," Chanyeol murmured. Y/N, her gaze holding a seductive glint, responded with allure, "Oh, are they? Maybe they're just inviting you to uncover them." Chanyeol smirks at that and pulls away, but only for a bit, and only to signal Suho for another round of drinks.

It was as if the world outside faded away, leaving only the two of them in their shared universe of unspoken attraction. The air crackled with tension, the promise of what could be hanging between them like a forbidden fruit, ripe for the taking. Chanyeol confessed with a teasing smile, "I have to admit, I'm enjoying our little game of cat and mouse." Y/N playfully admitted, “I do have a soft spot for charming predators."

Their closeness created a magnetic force, drawing them inexorably nearer. Chanyeol's hand brushed against Y/N's thigh as he reaches lower to pull her bar stool closer to his, the electric contact sending a shiver down their spines. It was a dance of seduction, every word and movement a carefully choreographed step in their tantalizing game. Y/N let out a gasp, a bit louder than she’d like, but Chanyeol caught it.

Their exchanges grew bolder, each line laden with innuendo and an undercurrent of longing. The words flowed seamlessly between them, a symphony of desire that echoed through the intimate space they occupied. Every stolen glance, every whispered confession, added another layer to the intricate tapestry of their burgeoning connection.

She toyed with her drink, tracing the rim of the glass with a delicate finger as her eyes locked onto his.

Fourty minutes and several drinks later, Y/N placed her glass on the table with a sultry grace. Without a word, she rose from her seat and joined the throng of dancers on the floor. Her movements were a seductive rhythm, her body moving in ways that left Chanyeol mesmerized.

He watched with hooded eyes as she danced, her every sway drawing him deeper into her spell. With each sensual motion, he found himself succumbing to an irresistible attraction. His twelfth drink disappeared in a single swig, and before he knew it, he was making his way towards her, unable to resist the magnetic pull she had over him.

The club pulsated with life, a chaotic symphony of thumping bass, flashing lights, and bodies swaying to the rhythm. A sea of people moved around them, caught up in their own world of hedonistic revelry. The music was a hypnotic mix of electronic beats and soulful melodies, a sonic tapestry that seemed to vibrate with its own energy.

But amid the chaotic dance floor and the swirling lights, Chanyeol and Y/N existed in their own universe. There was an electricity in the air, an invisible thread that bound them together, drawing them closer with each passing moment. The temperature seemed to rise around them, as if the club itself acknowledged their magnetic connection.

The multicolored lights strobed and flashed, casting fleeting shadows that danced across their faces. Chanyeol couldn't tear his gaze away from Y/N's lithe form as she moved to the music. Her every twist and turn was a seductive invitation, and he was captivated, unable to resist her pull.

Y/N, though initially resistant to the idea of letting loose, found herself succumbing to the intoxicating atmosphere. She let the music guide her body, losing herself in the sensuous sway of the crowd. Chanyeol's presence was undeniable, a magnetic force that drew her closer with every passing beat.

As they danced, their bodies moved in harmony, an unspoken understanding passing between them. It was as though the music itself was a bridge, connecting their souls in a way that defied explanation. And in that moment, the rest of the world faded into obscurity, leaving only Chanyeol and Y/N, lost in the intoxicating allure of each other's company.

His arms wrapped around her from behind as they both let go of their inhibitions. His other hand ran up and down from her ass to her thighs, which he felt through the huge slit in her dress. She responded with a low groan and pressed herself even harder into him, if that were possible. She reveled in the soft touch, quite contrasting to the grip he had on her waist. He then leaned and began leaving a trail of open mouth kisses on her neck. Her head instinctively fell back and gave him more skin to kiss. By now, she began to feel his bulge growing. She felt satisfied, a smile drew on her face. “I’d like to kiss you”, she said in a low whisper. “Kiss me then”, he replied. His arms turn her around and she brings her face closer to his.

Before he leant in to kiss her, Chanyeol took a moment to appreciate her beauty, wondering how and even what he did to deserve to cross paths with her. Before he could have finished his thoughts, Y/N held his face and crashed her lips onto his. Their first kiss was electric, invigorating, and definitely aroused them both even more so than they were before. His hands began to explore her body, feeling her shiver as his finger tips ran down her spine.

As they separate from the kiss to get some air, Chanyeol notices Y/N’s eyes. They were hooded with lust and beckoning him to have his way with her. “You know, I was wondering what a good punishment would be since you escaped all those moons ago.”, he said, mischief dripping from his words. “Yeah, and what would that be?”, she says, almost unable to conceal the excitement she felt. Without another word, he spun her around and pulled her into him so his crotch dug into her ass.

One of his hands lowered till he felt the slit in her dress. Her panties were now damp from her wetness, giving away that she enjoyed his touch. His fingers ghosted around the waistband, and her breath hitched. Fuck hell, do somethig, anything please - she thought to herself. As if reading her thoughts, his palm slipped into her panties and he let out a satisfactory groan. “Shit, you’re wet. With all that big talk before, I wondered if you’d give in so easily”, he says, his voice a deep timber. “Oh god, shut uuuUUP”, she managed to say before his palm pressed her sex, causing her voice to increase an octave.

Although, that seemed to be the end of his ministrations to her labia. She wanted to scream at him, punch him in his face. “Fuck Chanyeol, just fucking touch me already.”, she low-key yelled at him. A couple people dancing around seemed to have heard her and looked at her before going back to their reverie. Chanyeol and Y/N noticed this, and she blushed a deep red from embarrassment. “Ah, I seem to have found the perfect punishment for you, darling.”, he told her. Before she could get another retort in, he pressed his index finger on her clit real hard. She almost buckled from the pain and the pleasure this singular act brought her.

He then proceeded to part her lips, and ran his finger through the middle. “I’m going to make you cum so fucking hard, you’re going to scream bloody murder. Your punishment would be having to carry on with the rest of your night having known half the city watched you cum on my fingers.”, he growls in her ear. Her eyes grow wide at his words, but her mouth opens wider as Chanyeol inserts two of his fingers inside her snatch. Holy fucking shit holy fucking shit holy fucking shit - she keeps thinking to herself. How in the hell had she found herself in this situation. But she couldn’t deny that she was enjoying it. He had now proceeded to hitch her dress high enough that anyone could just turn around and look at her cunt being impaled by his long fingers.

She vows to herself not to let a squeak out of her, so as to not alert anyone around her to look. “You’re cunt is fucking soaking my fingers. You must be enjoying this…slut!”, he said. With that she grew even wetter, and this didn’t miss the notice of Chanyeol. Albeit taken by surprise, he got a thrill out of her enjoying being called a slut. She was completely at his mercy, as her body slumped back onto his chest. He was almost picking her up with each thrust of his manly fingers. Each thrust brought her closer to release, and Chanyeol sensed it from her pussy pulsating around his fingers. She couldn’t care less at this point who could see her cum.

She was like a bitch in heat as she ground herself and bucked on his fingers with his thrusts. “Fuck, you are such a slut, aren’t you?”, a rhetorical question slips past his lips. “Yes yes yes Oh fuck yes”, she exclaimed rhythmic to his movements. “You want to cum? You want to cum in front of all these people?”, he asked her, fingers not once losing rhythm. She couldn’t reply as she was too lost in her pleasure.

Chanyeol then moved his other hand, frees one of her breasts from the confines of her dress and twists her pebbled nipple. Y/N let out a cry of pleasure and replied back to him, “Yes, yes I will, and I’m so close. Fuck I’m so close.” Chanyeol then adds another finger, which slid in quite easily to his proclivity, and curls them so he was hitting her g-spot with each thrust. “Cum bitch, let everyone watch you as you cream my fucking fingers”. And with that Y/N let go of herself. She reached back to grab onto his neck as she moaned loud, oh so loud, as she came on his fingers.

He slowed down his movements and let her ride out her high. When she was nothing but breathy sighs, he removed his fingers and wiped them across her cheeks. She slowly turned around and kissed him ferociously. This kiss, unlike their first one, was all tongue. It was sloppy, as if they wanted to taste each other as deeply as they could. Chanyeol pulled back and licked her from her neck all the way to her cheek, tasting her sweet juices in the process.

Y/N then looked down and saw a sizable bulge in his jeans. “Your turn now”, she said. Chanyeol couldn’t disagree with her and took her hand and pulled her through the ocean of the crowd. She adjusted her dress as she was pulled towards the exit. The night was still young and the queue outside the club grew longer somehow, with people at the back growing impatient at the wait time. But they knew that what lied inside was worth so much more.

As Chanyeol waited for the valet to bring around his car, he maintained his hold on Y/N’s waist. As soon as the car came around, he opened the door for her first, like the gentleman he always was, and let her in. He closed the door after her, and almost ran to the driver’s side, unable to control himself. The car purrs to life, and he speeds through the roads to his home. His hand gripping her thigh, and at times, touching her pussy. She couldn’t take it any longer, and reached over to unbuckle his belt. She quickly undoes his zipper and reaches for his dick. He grunts as his member was straining against his pants for the last half hour.

Y/N lets out a moan at just the sight of his cock. She leans forward and began to lick the massive head, leaving kisses on it. She opened her mouth and slipped her tongue out. She then took the cock and engulfed it in her warm wet mouth. It filled her and she relaxed her throat. She went lower and lower until she couldn’t anymore. “Fuck, you give head like a perfect little whore”, he groaned and held her head, leaving just a moment for her to realize he was going to keep her down for a bit.

He forcefully pushed her head down so he was fully in her mouth, and left her gagging on his dick. “You like that, slut? Like gagging on my cock?”, he asked before pulling her head up for a second before he pushed her down again. She let him use her mouth like a cum dump. She used her tongue to give him more pleasure, and this was rewarded with a few pats on her head. After five minutes of this, as he was dangerously close to cumming he stops her head, and pulls her up. Her lips released his cock with a pop, and she quizzically looked at him. “Want to come inside you”, he answers her before she even asks him. With that she grins and sits back up as he tucks himself, painfully, within his jeans again.

Soon, they pulled up to his elegant home, a modern oasis nestled amidst the city's chaos. Parking the car with a hint of haste, they practically bounded out of the vehicle and rushed to his front door, their anticipation for more intensifying with each step. The night was far from over, and they were ready to explore the depths of their connection in the comfort of Chanyeol's luxurious abode.

They hardly stepped into his foyer, when they held each other and kissed passionately. He leads her to his bed, never once letting her take a breath from their kiss. He lifted her up, and picked her by her waist. He drops her gently on his bed. They hurriedly peel away each other's layers until Y/N was stark naked except for her heels, and he was still in his jeans. Somehow this made her feel vulnerable and made her wetter. He then released his cock, his jeans pulled a little lower. “Tell me you want me to fuck you. Tell me you want to get absolutely wrecked by me!”, he pants in her ear. “Fuck me, ruin me, Chanyeol!!”, she gasps as he rubbed the tip of his cock on her clit. He then slowly slid his entire length into her.

“Shit, didn’t know sluts like you could be this fucking tight.”, he grunts. He then began to thrust into her and she met each thrust with a moan. Her eyes teared up with how full she was feeling and she enjoyed every second of it. “You like that don’t you, slut!”, he asks her as he bit into her shoulder. Y/N enjoyed being talked to that way in bed, realizing that only after this encounter with Chanyeol. She hummed in agreement and this only resulted in him pounding into her with more vigor. His cock was deliciously rubbing against her g-spot and hitting her cervix.

He gripped her hips and turned her over, pulling her up in the process. He wrapped his hand in her now loose mane, and fucked her that way. The pleasure and pain melted into each other as they were both close to reaching orgasm. “Holy shit, I’m close, Chanyeol.”, she cried out and this only made him increase his pace. “Say you’re my whore. Tell me you enjoy being pounded into like this”, he growls at her. She could only let out cries of pleasure and chanted “yes I’m your whore, yes I’m your fucking whore.”

He was close to cumming, and so he wrapped his free hand around her neck, squeezing it lightly. This action alone made her cum so hard, and her convulsing pussy compelled his orgasm as well. He let out low groans as his cum painted her walls. His movements staggered and they fell on top of each other soon after. They faced each other and kissed each other, this time with something different than lust, although only one of them was ready to accept this fact.

In the stillness of the night, with the city's chaotic heartbeat as their lullaby, Chanyeol and Y/N lay intertwined, their breathing in perfect harmony. Their fingers traced invisible patterns on each other's skin, and their whispered words of affection hung in the air like secret promises. Wrapped in each other's arms, they succumbed to the gentle pull of slumber, their heartbeats synchronizing in a beautiful serenade of trust and connection. As they drifted into the embrace of dreams, the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the profound intimacy that had ignited between them, making their shared moment one of profound magic.

#--yeolsaintlaurent #nocturnal reverie #exo #exo imagines #exo scenarios #exo x reader #exo x you #exo smut #chanyeol x you #chanyeol scenario #chanyeol imagine #chanyeol smut #chanyeol #chanyeol x reader #exo chanyeol #park chanyeol #chanyeol fic

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let-me-love-you-loki · 3 months

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Nowhere to Run--Ch. 56

A/N: I'm probably going to get hate for continuing this story. But this is just a story about a fictionalized version of a person. So if it bothers you, don't read.

Chapter 56

Just as Kat had predicted, Jericho refused to shut the door behind him as they all filed out of the Inner Circle locker room. That anxiety from the early days of their relationship started to press in against his ribs the moment Kat was out of sight. He wanted to stand where he could see them both, where he could keep his eyes on her and make sure that Jack Perry didn’t get within three feet of her. The sense of protectiveness was so overwhelming it nearly choked him. For a moment, he had to struggle to keep himself from bursting back into the room.

All he could do was listen for the sound of her voice. That would have to be enough to keep him calm until he could gather her up in his arms again.

***

I pulled myself upright, huffing and puffing as the weight of the little life within me shifted. “No, don’t offer to help, I’m good,” I snapped, an edge to my voice as I got myself up to sit. “It’s not like I’m fucking pregnant or anything.”

Jack opened his mouth like he wanted to say something. His face flattened at the word pregnant. A sneer tipped the corner of his lips upward. I braced myself for the anger and the venom. For the proverbial slap in the face that I knew was coming. He stood with his back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. Part of me wanted to get up and smack him. At least then he’d be looking at me.

“I’m not going to keep doing this, Jack,” I said. My head throbbed and I honestly just wanted to go back to the hotel and sleep. I was starting to rethink coming back while I was pregnant. “So we need to have this conversation. We need to get this over with. I can’t deal with all of this stress and feeling like I have to look around corners to see if you’re there or walk around with an Inner Circle bodyguard.”

“You chose to do that,” he spat. The hard edge to his voice cut through me. “You’re the one who started up with him. Jesus Christ, Kat, he’s old enough to be your dad. People are going to think he’s the kid’s grandfather.”

The muscles in my jaw ached as I clenched my teeth. I took a deep breath and rested my hand on my belly. Jack railed against Jericho. About how I’d done something so horrible that it was unforgiveable. How I’d left California without a word to anyone. How I’d thrown years of friendship away.

“Oh, hell no,” I jumped in. “You don’t get to talk about throwing away a friendship. The only thing I did was fall in love with someone you didn’t like. You’re the one who decided that I wasn’t worth your time anymore. So I’m not the one who threw anything away. You did that. Yeah, I should have told your mom and Sophie that I was moving—”

Jack took a step toward me, jabbing his finger against his chest. “My mom? Sophie? You should have told me!”

I looked toward the door, knowing Jericho was just on the other side of the wall listening. Truth was, I expected him to come barreling in the moment he heard Jack’s raised voice. Part of me wanted him to. But I was equally glad that he hadn’t. That he was letting me handle this myself.

“Why would I have told you? You made it clear that you didn’t want to have anything to do with me. You called me a rat and a whore. You’re the reason I have this.” I pointed to the scar across my cheek, fighting to keep my voice even. I wasn’t going to get into a shouting match with Jack. Least of all because I knew I shouldn’t get myself over excited.

“That was an accident, and you know it,” he shot back. “You were in the way.”

I felt my spine straighten. I remembered every single second of that day. From showing up to Daily’s Place to being interrogated by Santana to the ambush by Luchasaurus. To the fight that broke out, the mirror shattering, ricocheting from the wall to slash my cheek. Getting stitches in the medical room. Crying in the night as Jack’s angry words ran circles in my head.

“You know what,” I said quietly. There was a sense of rage boiling through my veins that was almost possible to control. “I can see that your head is still so far up your own ass that you haven’t seen daylight in months. This is useless. But I can’t say that I didn’t try.”

My heart sank down toward my stomach at the knowledge that Jack and I wouldn’t ever be friends like we used to be. There wouldn’t be any fixing what was broken. No matter how hard I tried or how much I wanted it.

“You can go, Jack.” My breath caught.

I blinked hard, trying to hold back the tears that I knew would come soon. It didn’t matter to me if Jack saw that I was hurt by this, but I refused to let him see me cry. He wouldn’t see that.

“That’s it?” Jack said with a shadow of something underneath his words. “You’re choosing that fucking prick over me?”

I almost didn’t answer. “No. Even if it had been, you made the choice for me.”

***

It took every ounce of self-control that Jericho had to stop himself from busting into the room and throwing Jack Perry straight out on his ass. He could see Kat in his mind’s eye, and he didn’t have to imagine the hurt on her face. He knew how much Jack meant to her, even if he himself didn’t understand it. More than anything, he just wanted Kat to be happy. If that meant having Jack Perry around, he would deal with it as long as the little punk could treat her with some respect.

Jericho just hated that fact that, because of him, that wasn’t likely to happen.

Before he could take another breath, Jack stalked into the hallway. He made it two steps before he turned back toward Jericho with a sneer on his face. “This is your fault. You fucking took her from me.”

Jericho stayed quiet. He did nothing more than stare him down as he had his little temper tantrum. If he’d had his suspicions before, he was certain of them now. Jack Perry was completely in love with Kat. Everything about the way he acted radiated it. There was no hiding it anymore. It was a wonder that Kat didn’t see it.

Or maybe she did.

Just maybe she did.

After a tense moment, Jack swore and turned on his heel. Jericho didn’t even let him get out of sight before he slid through the doorway. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw Santana, Ortiz, and Jake take up positions as if they were bodyguards. Sammy had disappeared.

Kat was sitting up on the sofa, one hand on the curve of her belly and the other over her eyes. She didn’t look up when he sat down beside her, but she did lean against his shoulder. Jericho wrapped his arms around her and sighed.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry, Kat.”

She took a deep breath and pressed her face against the curve of his neck. She wiped her eyes and let her free hand settle on his knee. Jericho laced his fingers with hers and pressed a kiss against the top of her head.

“Whatever happens, I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know,” Kat whispered back. “I know.”

She drew his hand over to her belly so that he could feel the gentle motions of the baby. He smiled, a tinge of sadness in it. He couldn’t stop himself. “He’s in love with you, Kat. You know that, don’t you?

***

I closed my eyes against the tears that threatened to spill out. It was the one thing I didn’t want to think about, not now. Not when I’d watched the best friend I’d ever have just walk away. Probably for good this time. There was no question in my mind that Jack Perry hated me with everything he had now. Nothing was going to fix this. And everything… everything was going to be different from this moment on.

“Please,” I plead softly. The fresh ache of losing Jack had settled deep behind my ribs. I couldn’t let him see it. I just couldn’t. “I don’t want to talk about this.”

Jericho’s chest expanded with his breath. He circled his arms more tightly around me, practically drawing me into his lap. His entire body was filled with tension. I could feel it bleeding into me, twisting my stomach into knots until I felt like I was going to be sick.

I sensed him open his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he just smoothed my hair back from my face and rubbed my back gently. I tried to breathe. To settle myself into something that resembled calm. My head started to swim, and I was sure for a moment that I was going to pass out. If I hadn’t already been sitting down, I might have.

“I know it’s hard, sweetheart,” he said gently. I tried to focus on the gentle pressure of his hand on the center of my back. “Give it time. Let’s go home.”

The thought of home made my chest ache in a whole new way. I wanted our bed, our living room, the view of the water from the deck. I wanted the room that he’d been painstakingly turning into a nursery. I wanted that sense of feeling safe. Of being safe.

But then I looked up and saw the Inner Circle hovering just outside the door. I didn’t see Sammy, but the other three were there. They were watching with concern painted over their features. It was an odd thing to see on Jake.

“No,” I whispered back. I sat up straight and wiped my eyes. I drew in a deep breath. “If I run away now… if I run away again… he’s won. He’s pushed me out once, I’m not going to let him do it again.”

Santana grinned, crossing his arms over his chest as he laughed. “There’s my girl.”

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

Tag List

@lilred91

@mariejr88-blog

@thenerdybaker523

@mrsmatt

@not-that-kinda-gurl08

@ryantaylorgirl

@daddyslittlevillain

@Rdhester1987

@rollynchwhore

@spaghetti-hoop

#chris jericho #chris jericho fanfiction #inner circle #inner circle fanfiction #aew #aew fanfiction #ofc #oc #kat prince #chris x kat #may/december romance #multi-chapter #jack perry

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koravelliumavast · 2 years

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Kaladin aroace moments chronicalized by me, an ace

| TWOK | WOR | OB | ROW | KOWT |

TWOK ch 10: stories of surgeons

“Sani’s head rolled to the side, and she mumbled, drugged. She wore only a white cotton shift, her safehand exposed. Older boys in the town sniggered about the chances they’d had —or had claimed to have had— at seeing girls in their shifts, but Kal didn’t understand what the excitement was all about. He was worried about Sani, though. He always worried when someone was wounded.”

•••

TWOK ch 16: cocoons

“More and more, Kat found that he liked looking at Laral, Kat knew, logically what was happening to him. His father had explained the process of growing wich the precision of a surgeon. But there was so much feeling involved, emotions that his father's sterile descriptions hadn't explained. Some of those emotions were about Laral and the other girls of the town. Other emotions had to do with the strange blanket of melancholy that smothered him at times when he wasn't expecting.”

•••

“Kal found his eyes lingering on her again. That hair of hers was beautiful, with the two stark colors.” (Ok this reads as aesthetic attraction to me more than anything.)

•••

“Kal, if you go to war and find a Shardblade, then you’d be a lighteyes… I mean… Oh, this is useless.” She settled back, folding her arms even more tightly.

Kal scratched his head. She really was acting oddly. “I wouldn’t mind going to war, winning honor and all that. Mostly, I’d like to trace. See what other lands are like.”

•••

TWOK ch 17: A Bloody, Red Sunset

“Always keep a glowing sphere in your pocket,” Kaladin said. “It’s good luck.”

“You certain you don’t want a love potion?”

“If you get caught in the dark, you’ll have light,” Kaladin said tersely. “Besides, as you said, most people aren’t as trusting as you.”

•••

TWOK ch 25: The Butcher

Kal glanced up at the mansion again. “That’s why you encouraged me to play with Laral so much. You wanted to marry me off to her, didn’t you?”

“It was a possibility,” his mother said, returning to her work.

He honestly wasn’t certain how he felt about that

•••

How would he feel marrying someone like Laral? He’d never be her equal. Their children would have a chance of being lighteyed or darkeyed, so even his children might outrank him. He knew he’d feel terribly out of place. That was another aspect of becoming a surgeon. If he chose that path he would be choosing the life of his father. Choosing to set himself apart, to be isolated.

If he went to war, however, he would have a place. Maybe he could even do the nearly unthinkable, win a Shardblade and become a true lighteyes. Then he could marry Laral and not have to be her inferior. Was that why she’d always e chaired him to become a soldier? Had she been thinking about these kinds of things, even back then? Back then, these kinds of decisions—marriage, his future—had seemed impossibly far-off to Kal.

He felt so young. Did he really have to consider these questions?

•••

TWOK ch 37: Sides

Would he see Laral here? He was embarrassed by how infrequently he thought about her these days.

•••

So much had changed. It had been so long, and seeing her brought up old emotions. Shame, excitement. Did she know that his parents had been hoping to marry him to her? Merely seeing her again almost flustered him completely.

•••

TWOK ch 40: eyes of red and blue

Ok I don’t want to quote the whole thing because it’s like three pages. But the conversation between Kal and Sigzil at the end of the chapter where Sigzil says stuff about Kaladin being a leader and whatnot. Yeah.

•••

TWOK ch 44: the weeping

Some might find that dark hair sprinkled with foreigner blood to be unappealing for its indication of mixed blood, but to Kaladin it was alluring.

(Dictionary definition of Alluring: powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating)

•••

TWOK ch 46: child of tanavast

“Your face has strong lines. Square and firm, with a proud chin. We would call it a leaders face among my people.” [Sigzil]

“I’m no lighteyes” Kaladin said, spitting to the side.

•••

TWOK ch 62: Three Glyphs

“I tried to rescue, Tarah…” He hadn’t thought of her in some time. His failure with her had been different from the others, but a failure it was nonetheless.

•••

I dont remember what chapter this is from but holy fuck that’s the gayest thing I’ve heard Moash say and Kaladin following it up with a cool thanks bro can you go help those two? KALADIN

#kaladin stormblessed #lists #long post #stormlight archives #stormlight archives spoilers #cosmere #brandon sanderson #stormlight archive #kaladin is bi aroace and i will die on this hill #if you think there are any other moments that deserve to be here lmk this is just what I saw #aroace kal proof #the way of kings spoilers #the way of kings #irritating to me to say this but it’s obviously all just my opinions

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quotidian-oblivion · 11 months

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Book recs!! ✨

Hi! So a bit ago, I met a lovely amazing anon on ao3 (who is a BLESSING compared to the other mean anons commenting out there, thanks Kat, you make mine and im pretty sure other author's days too). So we got into talking about books and I offered to make a list for her and post it on tumblr so other people too can scrounge through so here we are lmao.

I gathered this list from the personal notes I had made to myself to add these books to my bookshelf when i move out and also from another list i made for my little siblings because no way are they gonna not read the good stuff I found. It's like a rite of passage now.

Just a note: I don't read romance. But since books don't have the very convenient tags we get on ao3, I end up getting to romance-y parts. The only romance books I have read are middle school level romance lmao XD Nothing except kisses and stuff lol.

Let's go!

The Maze Runner series

Maze Runner

I love this book. This series. Ngl, one of the first books where I felt that heart-clenching feeling of hurt. Love the characters, the world-building was in the fandom for a brief while and I love the plot too. Better than the movie plot anyway XD

Mare Runner: Scorch Trials

Second book in the series, also very good. Literally an adventure. So many twists and turns. Once more, the characterization is also amazing!

Maze Runner: Death Cure

Third and last book in the series as a main. Heartbreaking. Did shed tears. Page 250 still kills me. O u ch.

The Fever Code

Also in the same series and OUCH. It's the characters before the whole drama happened and they're kids and higehrfwb 😭 No kidding I was squealing and nearly threw the book multiple times out of excitement. It solved a couple plotlines too. I adored it. Plus, it gave me some closure from the many many (inevitable) deaths.

Crank Palace

It's a novella, but clears the mysterious gap that was in the third book. Plus, it gives much much more closure but I'm still crying so do what you will with that information. I love the new "OC"s here too.

Trials of Apollo

The Hidden Oracle The Dark Prophecy The Burning Maze The Tyrant's Tomb The Tower of Nero

Listen- listen- I know this is kinda obvious and you might be asking "where's the rest of the pjo series?" but that's a given. My personal favorites are the pjo, hoo and toa series, but toa somehow spoke to me more because the main relationship wasn't a romantic one like all the other teen books I read. I also adore Apollo/Lester's character development? Like, at first he was this carefree god, then at the end of the series, he transformed into a person who cared so much and so deeply and was willing to die for others. That is peak character development and if I hadn't read toa, I would still be blundering around and confused with my multi-chap fics as to how characters actually develop. Because you can see that journey so clearly in toa.

Jinx series

Jinx: The Wizard's Apprentice Jinx's Magic Jinx's Fire

I love this series so much??? I am a sucker for fantasy novels and this was so so good. I love the storyline and-

AND I ESPECIALLY LOVE THE FOUND FAMILY ASPECT HERE. THIS. IS LITERALLY RELUCTANT MENTOR-FATHER AND HYPER AND KEEN MENTEE-SON. AHHH.

Anyway, this was my first found family novel. I loved the whole storyline too, this was also the series where I was first introduced to the concept of whump (without knowing what whump actually was).

The Mapmaker Chronicles

Race To The End Of The World Prisoner Of The Black Hawk Breath Of The Dragon

These were also some of the first whump books I read. And I especially loved this because the plot was it. A smartass scrawny boy who accidentally turned into a hero? Hmmm, I wonder who that reminds me of. (Tim Drake. It reminds of Tim Drake)

But the characters are also special to my heart. There is minimal romance in here. Any romance is to move the plot forward.

Also a mentor-mentee relationship here. Not so much found family to the heart seeing as the main character already has family back home, but the whole crew definitely is a family of their own. I especially adore Ash! Ahhh! She's lovely and amazing. Oh and Zain- *sighs* he is the perfect mentor figure to scrawny li'l Quinn. And the hateable characters are so perfectly hateable!! The author truly is talented at stories.

Although the second book could do with more whump

Nevermoor series

Nevermoor

This book was described in the reviews as "Harry Potter meets Alice in Wonderland" and it stayed true to its description. It had beautiful and amazing characters, and an evil-mentor & reluctant hero-mentee relationship (though not at first) and I am a sucker for that. Also, I just love the character herself. Morrigan is a very good and fleshed out character and I will love her forever.

Wundersmith

We explore more of the evil-mentor & reluctant hero-mentee relationship. But Jupiter, Morrigan's actual caretaker, is the PERFECT uncle/caretaker for her and he's so protective of her and i just-

*sobs* I stan.

Hollowpox

Here we discover some of that delicious power upgrades. I also love all the friends! HAWTHORNE IS MY FAVORITE AND WILL ALWAYS BE I LOVE HIM. Stunning characters here 💫 Also some wise comparison of the different isms and phobias (as in homophobia, racism etc.) here in terms of fantasy.

The Mysterious Benedict Society series

The Mysterious Benedict Society The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Prisoner's Dilemma The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Riddle of Ages

This... was one of the first mystery books I had ever read (my actual first was Sherlock Holmes cuz I found it on my grandparents' bookshelf and read it cuz I had read every other book they owned which wasn't a lot). I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. It was calm and just- a bunch of kids going on a perilous journey to solve a mystery to save the city. Those kind of vibes. But the vibes were so good. So enjoyable. Every time I hear about this series, I just sigh in contempt.

There are very, very interesting characters here too. The characters are what made the story so good. All of them have unique quirks which they use to crack clues and form conclusions and dive into actions. Such good characters. 10/10, honestly.

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict

This is part of the Benedict society universe, but it takes place years before the main events. It has adventures of the leader of the group in the main series as a kid. This book has a special mention because the storyline was different to the style of the main series and it had tropes. Just- the friend and the character itself and- dnfhbevbiluw

Okay, I admit, Benedict here does remind me of Tim (my fav character in DC). Like y'know smol Tim with the camera? Those kind of vibes. Very strong vibes. I read this way before I discovered Tim even existed so maybe this book plays a part in my favorites?

Jessica Brody books

The fact that I put the actual author's name here should tell you something.

Addie Bell's Shortcut To Growing Up

This book... brought me to tears. This was the second book that prompted salt water to slip out of my tear ducts. It was a strange feeling. Cuz I was not used to crying for books and movies and shows.

The plot just hit hard. A 12-year-old Addie magically time-travels to when she's 16 and experiences life as a teenager. The plot gives more than you expect. There are boys, yes, but that is a side plot, not a main plot. Which is why I love the book so much. Addie wants to be one of the "girly" girls who talks about boys and stuff and goes to parties like her older sister, but then as she lives the life of a teenager more and more, she realizes just how much she lost. Friendships, family, her personality, her interests, herself.

The part that made me cry was her missing her sister. Cuz, well, I'm an older sister. And my sister who is the oldest after me has the same age difference as Addie and her older sister. It wasn't just her missing her sister in that scene, it was everything crashing down on her that moved me to tears. Amazing book. If anything, I recommend you either read this or 'Better You Than Me' if nothing in this list goes towards your liking.

Better You Than Me

This was the first book that made me cry. It has two characters, one in middle school, the other who is an actress, swap bodies. So the typical middle school kid gets to live as a famous actress, and the famous actress gets to live as a typical middle school kid. Of course, neither of them end up liking their new life very much, but that only teaches them two important messages: appreciation and communication. God, I learnt so much from this book. I was like 13 or something when I read it and it resonated within me enough to make me cry. I adore this. SO much.

I Speak Boy

I actually have a library-borrowed copy with me right now XD It's about a middle school girl, Emmy, being very confused with the opposite gender. (Very much hetero, no homo despite it being published in 2021). But, once again, the reason I love this book isn't cuz of the romance (though it is kinda satisfactory but also a bit cliché). It's how the main character realizes that boys aren't everything. Just like in 'Addie Bell's Shortcut To Growing Up'. It's a lot about friendship.

The reason why I like these books by Jessica Brody (I haven't read the others yet) is because of the Bechdel Test factor in it.

S. K. Ali books

Again you have another author's name. This time, it's Muslim fiction!

Love From A To Z

The first Muslim fiction book I've ever read. And yes, it is a romance book. But it does not have any touchy-touchy stuff (except in the Epilogue and a couple dream scenes, very vague though and only kissing). As in, the main characters follow mainstream Sunni procedures and do not touch each other as they're not married. Which just leaves room for a ton of emotional romance.

I adore this simply because I'm a Muslim Hijabi myself and I am very much biased.

It deals with so many aspects of romance though, like personality first, lust last, and whether they are the right fit or not and whether they actually like each other or the idea of each other and how families play into this and online hate and emotion control and of course, the marvels and oddities of life. It is packed with so much. And when I finished the book, I had a good long cry. This is the first book that made me cry the longest. Because- because I was starved for representation! And this book did it so well! I just- love this so much.

The author has published a sequel, Love from Mecca to Medina, I have yet to read it because I'm waiting for it to be in a library. I prefer physical copy books.

Once Upon An Eid

Okay, this is very Muslim-based, but if you treat it like Muslim Christmas, everything becomes clear XD Also, Ali wrote only one story here. This book is actually a collection of stories by different Muslim authors. And each story is so special. Many people don't really know how Muslims celebrate Eid or why it's so special (besides spiritual reasons) and what it looks like. This paints an accurate picture. And it contains most, if not all, types of Muslims celebrating Eid. Sunni, Shia, refugee, African, American, revert/convert, South Asian etc. So really diverse.

Saints and Misfits Misfit In Love

Very much love-centred, but also has very vague mentions of sexual assault/rape/non-con. Yes, in a Muslim community. It exists. A lot actually. But it's hidden and hushed down. Disgustingly.

But the first book addresses it and how a Muslim girl battles it. She's in love with a white boy, yes, but she doesn't give in to her white boy desires. Neither does she fall to a non-white boy, at least not fully.

Which is why I recommend that if you're reading the first book, you definitely, definitely read the second one along with it. Because I felt even though the ending of the first book was satisfactory, it wasn't satisfactory to me. But the second book was! Because at the end of the second book, Janna (the main character), comes to the conclusion that boys aren't everything. And even though there is a very perfect boy that fancies her and she fancies him too, she takes a breath and says that she isn't too focused on that. And I adore that. But she only comes to that conclusion after falling in love with many, many, many boys. I did get a bit uncomfy cuz romance just in general makes me uncomfy, its a personal thing, but I kept reading it cuz... Muslim fiction! Anyway, good book series. But I like Love From A To Z better.

Now, those are... a lot of books. And a lot of me talking. And there are still so many more. So I'm just gonna go through some quick filtering and put the titles and authors of the other books here in dot points.

London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd (my first novel, Kat knows about this lol)

Skyfire series by Michael Adams

NERDS series by Michael Buckley (it's an acronym that stands for National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society. It's weird but I laughed a lot so)

Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens

Mallory Towers series by Enid Blyton

Naughtiest Girl In The School series by Enid Blyton

Scarlet and Ivy series by Sophie Cleverly (fuck- I forgot to add this to the main list, but this book is hella hella good and I recommend it very much)

Bounce by Megan Shull (life lessons in here)

Sick Bay by Nova Weetman

The Adventurer's Guild series by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos

Luck Uglies series by Paul Durham ("DADDY ISSUES!" screams Quo. "I love this book because I have daddy issues among other issues and that is all.")

Time Hunters by Chris Blake (it is very much a children's book, not even middle school, but I read it because it has an intriguing storyline and interesting historical facts that had me raising my hand in every history lesson)

There are no classic books here because that will need its own separate post.

And that's it! Thank you very much!

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jegbigbang · 8 days

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hi!! i’m thinking of joining the big bang but the project i want to do is a fic i wrote and half posted on ao3 but took down a while ago and have since been rewriting. it’s still the same concept, but i’ve essentially scrapped most of the original writing and have started from scratch. i also only posted abt 3-4 ch (i think) abt 2 yrs ago. would it still be eligible to be part of this ?

hello!

we're glad to see you're interested in joining! unfortunately, we do have a rule that you can't join with a work that has been published before but we strongly encourage you to sign up with another work if you'd like to join us! we hope to see you in the server and wish you a lovely day!

-kat

#jegbang #jegulus #hp events #answered #faq #hp fest #starchaser #jegulus big bang #james potter #regulus black

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jeewrites · 13 days

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Hi Jee!

To help with my year of asks, I will sometimes jot down question ideas in advance. For you, I have written “ten course meals” and I can’t remember why lol

Do you cook ten course meals??? Please tell me more! If not, what do you like to cook, if you like to cook at all?

Kat!

I'm so sorry I am just getting to your ask now! I guess if Ch. 5 of Hold Fast says anything about me is that I love food (eating it mostly, lol).

Growing up I wasn't allowed in the kitchen, but I got really into cooking in college and would host dinners to try out new recipes. I've come a long way from burning ramen in the microwave!

My sweet spot is usually dinner for 6-8 family style. Cooking was my creative outlet for over 15 years before I fell in love with clay. Now I just batch cook simple things and make sure I hit my macros for powerlifting. 😂 The last big meal I made was earlier this year for Lunar New Year and it took me 2 days (11 dishes), but it was worth it for all the happy tummies (and leftovers for a week).

Do you like to cook?

#answered asks #ask answered

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grogusmum · 8 months

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Hazel's Thro-back Thursday fic recs (8/31/23)

Okay, I didn't get any suggestions for this week, but I did read some older fics that kind of got lost in the shuffle, so here they are!

The Viper’s Bride (link to ch 1) Oberyn Martell x female reader x Ellaria Sand x OC (complete series)

@wardenparker and @absurdthirst do it again, a gorgeous multi chapter fic about a royal betrothal and polycule relationship brought fully to life.

Construction Corner Series Masterlist AU Joel Miller x Female Reader (complete series) by @katareyoudrilling the fandom took hold of a throwaway line and declared we would watch the shot out of Construction Corner w/Joel, Kat ran with it and I love her for it!! This is such a sweet little series with cameos of other Pedro boys in each chapter!

Through The Wall Cassian Andor x F!Earthling!Reader

By @miraclesabound

Playing with dimensional travel in this soul mate au, Katie's written something very fun! I love this completed 3 part fic giving Cassian Andor the love he deserves!!

Anyway, I will always suggest going for a deep cut from your fav fic writers masterlist, but please don't just read it- give it some love reblog and comment if you aren't too shy (and if you are shy- we get it, but we are really nice y'all!).

Remember, a lot of times, writers' earlier fics kind of end up neglected because they didn't have a very big following, and by the time they do, those first fics are buried.

And don't forget those recs! From a fav writer or your own self!!

#hazels thro-back thursday fic recs #fic recs #oberyn martell #ellaria sand #joel miller

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sunnydaleherald · 3 months

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The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Friday, February 9

BUFFY: Oh, that would be tragic, taking the fun out of slaying, stabbing, beheading. FAITH: Oh, like you don't dig it. BUFFY: (shrugs) I don't. FAITH: You're a liar. I've *seen* you. Tell me staking a vamp doesn't get you a little bit juiced. Come on, say it. (She stops and folds her arms, waiting for Buffy's answer. Buffy can't help but smile, and looks down to hide it.) FAITH: (laughs) You can't fool me. The look in your eyes right after a kill? You just get hungry for more. Buffy: (shakes her head) You're way off base.

~~Bad Girls~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

The Philologist by firemanwhenthefloodsrollback (Buffy/Spike, T)

A New Leaf by Pinkperson (Angel, Lindsey, T)

Mom's Taste by Pinkperson (Buffy, Joyce, G)

Rupert and Ripper by JenLRossman (Giles/Reader, Giles/OFC, Not Rated)

Bury My Heart in the Valley of Your Affection by CoffeeHunt (Angel/Spike, Spike/various others, E)

Buffyverse Flashfiction by NotASlayer (Anya, Buffy, unrated)

Bite Mark by Maxineeden (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion - Ch. 411 by madimpossibledreamer (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure xover, T)

Xander the Teenage Witch: Something Wicked - Ch. 9 by v_o_x (Xander/Larry, T)

Aspect of Lust - Ch. 3 by Skylark62 (Buffy/Giles, E) COMPLETE!

Transmogrification - Ch. 3 by MamaBewear (Angel/Spike, T) COMPLETE!

Strings - Ch. 17 by aliceinwonderbra (Buffy/Faith, E) COMPLETE!

Back undead and little again - Ch. 4 by AnkiKind (Angel, Spike, Fred, M) COMPLETE!

Straight to the Heart - Ch. 4 by QuillBard (Buffy/Faith, M)

For The Dark - Ch. 6/7 by CharcoalTeeth (Buffy/Faith, E)

but this love is ours - Ch. 11/17 by ripslayer (Buffy/Faith, M)

Your deepest fears - Ch. 3 by JSBirsa (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Amara Time - Ch. 19 by Joan963z (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Goodbye to Everything That I Knew - Ch. 20 by fortes775 (Buffy/Spike, R)

When Ethan Rayne made Rambo - Ch. 8 by SplitEnz (Ethan, Xander, Rambo xover, FR15)

Your deepest fears - Ch. 3 by JSBirsa (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Icons: #4 by twirlingcons (Buffy, Anya, worksafe)

Banner: Sweet and Short - Ch. 5 [only BTVS chapter] by captainamergirl (Buffy, worksafe)

Artwork: Watercolour painting of Xander Harris, from the Buffy episode The Pack. by ghostrabbit87 (Xander, worksafe)

Artwork: Dawn! Where are you? [Scooby Doo xover] by RemrysIIV (Scoobies, Giles, Buffy, worksafe)

Lego: "... We survived." by buffy_the_lego_brick_layer (ensemble, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

BtVS rewatch S7 - Lies My Parents Told Me pt 1 - by debbicles

February 9, 1999 - Bad Girls aired... by on-this-day-btvs

PODDCAST: 1.6 The Pack by Once More: A Rewatch Podcast

[Fandom Discussions]

enemies is such a bonkers hour of television what am I even supposed to do with myself... by lightsaroundyourvanity

OK, some final belated thoughts on Season 3... [Faith's role and murders] by coraniaid

... man, even in season 5 Spike and Buffy is so problematic to me. by kat--writes

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER | incorrect quotes by andremichaux

POLL: [best one episode to introduce someone to BTVS] by sulphur-and-honey

POLL: Vampire Media Guys Round 1: Edward Cullen or Spike by vampirewrestlinglover

Do you love Anya? updated by NoShip

[discussion of fandom's opinions of Xander] by jackBattlin

Who do you think was best for Willow and why? by RemrysIIV

Unpopular opinion (?): Angel was just fine [and not bad] on Buffy by sadhungryandvirgin

What are your favourite oneliners that you still use to this day? by RegisterAfraid

Wesley [kidnapping in ATS] by No-Dig-4658

What's Your Best BTVS or ATS Minor or One-Off Character(s)? by Big-Restaurant-2766

[About] Sunday in Season 4 (Freshman) by Dappich

Day 2: [9 square game] ... morally grey but is presented as a hero by OhWowMan22

POLL: Do you prefer Buffy as a big sister or an only child? by SafiraAshai

POLL: Who had the best looking apartment in Sunnydale? by jdpm1991

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

Wolf Pack [SMG show] Canceled at Paramount+ by The Hollywood Reporter

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

#angel the series #btvs #fan fiction #meta #fan art #ats #buffy the vampire slayer

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the-wild-wolves-around-you · 2 years

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hear those bells ring: chapter 10 (a bakugo x reader fic)

Summary: Aftermath of Bakugo and Reader's kiss with a touch of angst. (And a little more Bakusquad shenanigans bc I love them).

Pairings: Katsuki Bakugo/Reader; Katsuki Bakugo/You

Rating: M(ature)

Warnings: Adult language. Violence?

A/N: hey y'all, sorry about the delay. i got sick, then my keyboard died, then my country declared war on my uterus, so you know. it's been a month lmao. also, fun fact, this story garnered me my first hate message. apparently, as a millennial, i'm too old to be writing fanfic. :( so, sorry guys, i gotta pack it in and never consume or enjoy media again

anyway lol hope you enjoy this chap, and I already have the next one finished, just gotta edit. so that will be up sometime later this week. :)

~*~*~ No spoilers or anything. This is just a self-indulgent AU fic with aged up characters. Everyone’s in their mid-20s. Fic title is from a song called “Achilles Come Down.”

Ao3 Link: Here

Ch 1 Tumblr Link: Here

Ch 9 Tumblr Link: Here

“You’re making a mistake, Stitches.”

Bakugo was close enough that his voice rumbled through you like a thunderstorm, and the space between the two of you was so charged with electricity you felt like you’d been struck by lightning, every hair on your body standing on end.

Then, before you could really process his words-- his warning-- he leaned down, slanted his mouth across you own, and stole all the breath from your lungs.

Your brain short-circuited for a moment, and all you could think of was how warm yet soft the blond’s lips felt against yours. Then your now sober mind started distantly screaming that this was not a good idea, but your thoughts all turned to static when Bakugo’s hot tongue traced the seam of your mouth. You gasped, and he seized the opportunity, that lithe muscle darting past your teeth and bringing with it the taste of sake and whisky and something else, something that you just knew was distinctly Bakugo.

The space between your ears was little better than cotton now, and your eyes fluttered shut as one strong hand threaded through your hair while the other latched onto your waist. Bakugo kissed with the same intensity he did everything else, and your body bent to his every command. The skin around his mouth was a little rough with stubble, and a whimper rattled in the back of your throat because it burned so good.

Your involuntarily noise seemed to spur the blond on because he tilted your head back for better access, his tongue doing its best to memorize every tooth and corner of your mouth. The hand on your waist tightened even further, enough to possibly leave bruises, and the thought made the apex of your thighs throb.

The lack of oxygen was beginning to make your head spin, but you couldn’t even find it in yourself to care as you fisted your hands in the material of his shirt, twining your tongue along his. You could feel his heart pounding beneath his ribcage, a frantic pattern to match your own, and you were just beginning to think you might faint when Bakugo ripped his mouth away.

“Fuck,” he panted, and you opened your eyes to find his red ones staring down at you from inches away. The red irises burned with desire in the low light of the patio, and his fingers flexed around your waist again, like he was having to restrain himself from pulling you back in.

You licked your lips, finding them wet and swollen, and Bakugo’s gaze tracked the movement like a predator stalking its prey. The intensity of his stare made your core throb again, and you opened your mouth— to say what, you didn’t know— but then the sound of a door opening went off like a gunshot, and Bakugo was propelling himself away from you like you were on fire.

You stumbled since you’d been leaning all your weight into the blond, and you were just about to ask what the hell when another voice cut across the patio.

“There you are, Stitch— oh, hey, Kats, you’re still here?” Mina asked as she came to a stop a few feet from the door and cocked her pink head.

Your mouth dropped open as blood rushed into your cheeks, and for a moment, you just gaped silently, your eyes flicking from Mina, to Bakugo, and back again. A million thoughts tumbled through your head like rocks in a dryer, clunky and loud, but before you could string even a few of them together, Bakugo scoffed beside you. The sound was sharp, abrasive, and it made you shrink into yourself.

“I told you to stop calling me that, Raccoon Eyes,” he snapped. “And I was just fuckin’ leaving.”

Then, before you could say a word, the blond stomped away from you and shouldered past his friend. He didn’t look back.

“Wait, wha—” Mina started to ask as she turned, but Bakugo slammed the door behind him and cut her off.

You stared after the explosive hero with wide eyes, and one by one, the neurons started firing in your head again.

Oh, fuck. What did you just do? And how much had Mina seen?

“Well, goodbye to you, too,” the pink-skinned hero muttered, and she rolled her eyes as she faced you again. “Sorry about him. I would say his mother should have taught him better, but if you met his mother, a lot of things would start to make sense.”

“O-Oh, no, it’s fine,” you said, your voice coming out more high-pitched than you wanted it to. You plastered on a smile, hoping to mask the freakout building up inside you like an impending volcanic eruption, but then you started wondering if Mina could tell your lips were swollen. Did they look red? Shit, what about your hair?

You recalled thick fingers twining through the strands at the back of your head, and your whole body flushed with heat.

No, bad, stop thinking about that. Be normal. Act normal.

“Uh-huh…” Mina said as she narrowed her two-tone eyes at you. “Sooooo, what were you guys doing out here anyway? The whole table’s been worried about you. We tried texting you, but then Kiri and I started searching the bar.”

“Shi— I’m so sorry,” you blurted out and fished your phone from your pocket, wincing at the several missed calls and text messages. “My phone was on silent. I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you guys. I was coming back to the table, I swear, but then…”

You trailed off as you realized you couldn’t tell her what really happened. It was just a drunken, spur-of-the-moment decision to come outside.

Weren’t drunk when you kissed him, though, you made sure of that, a nasty voice whispered in the back of your head, and you suppressed a wince.

That may be true, but it was still a mistake, considering the way Bakugo all but ran away. He obviously regretted it— maybe he’d just be humoring sad, pathetic you— so he definitely wouldn’t want you blabbing about his error in judgment to his actual friends.

A painful ache began to throb in the center of your chest, the base of your throat, but you pushed it down and away.

“But thennnn…” Mina suddenly drawled and yanked you out of your thoughts, and you looked up to see her raising an eyebrow at you.

You didn’t have time to craft an elaborate lie, so a partial truth would have to suffice.

“But then I saw Bakugo through the door, and I wanted to make sure he was alright,” you said. “I’ve gotten the impression that he doesn’t really l-like me, so I just wanted to apologize for crashing this night with his friends. O-Or at least that was the plan, but, um, some guys were smoking out here, and they started bothering me until Bakugo told them off.”

“Oh.” Mina frowned and looked a tad less suspicious. “Are you okay? Do we need to find those guys?”

“No, no,” you said as you waved your hands. “It’s fine, really. They were just drunk and trying to hit on me, but one look at Pro Hero Dynamight sent them running.”

You laughed nervously and tried not to fidget. You needed to be the picture of innocence, like someone who had not almost been caught making out with the Number Two hero in Japan.

Don’t think about it, don’t think about it.

“I see,” Mina hummed, but then her black-and-gold eyes flicked up and down your figure again. “Soo… when did Kats give you his jacket?”

Heat flooded your cheeks once more, and you suddenly became hyper aware of the warm weight on your shoulders, smelling of smoke and sugar.

“O-Oh, uh, t-that was—” Stop stuttering, stop stuttering. You cleared your throat. “That was right after those guys went back inside again. I was shivering, and Bakugo berated me for not dressing warmer. Something about not getting sick while I’m under their agency’s care or something. He flung it over me a few seconds before you walked outside.”

Mina’s gaze narrowed on you, like she was trying to find your weaknesses, find the cracks in your story, your resolve, but you just forced your cheeks up into another semblance of a smile and tried not to think of the sweat sliding down your spine despite the cool night air.

A beat of silence passed, then two, before Mina let out a sigh.

“That sounds like Kats, being a dick while doing a nice thing.” She shook her head, the string lights above glinting off the silver glitter on her horns and skin. “Try not to hold it against him too much. He’s actually a good guy under his sharp and unpleasant exterior.”

“Of course.” You nodded and did your best to push the blond from your mind. Then you took a deep breath and gestured to the doors. “Well, should we get back inside? I don’t want to worry Kirishima more than necessary.”

“Oh, shit, yeah,” Mina laughed. “Five bucks says he’s trying to get the bar owner to turn on all the lights while Sero’s trying to stop him, and Denki is crying at our table.”

“Do you really think they’re that worried?” you asked as your eyes widened.

“Well, yeah.” Mina laughed again and linked her arm through yours. “We like you, girl. Some of us maybe a little more than others, too, so don’t think you ‘crashed’ tonight. Katsuki just doesn’t like going out in public, so he’s always moody when we get drinks, that had nothing to do with you. Now, come on. We can probably do one more round of shots before Denki faceplants into the table.”

Your smile was a little less forced as the acidic hero led you inside, and you outright laughed when you discovered she’d been right. Kirishima was trying to get the lights turned on, but Sero was trying to stop both him and Kaminari, who was going up to the DJ on the dancefloor side of the bar and loudly attempting to take the mic and make an announcement.

Thankfully, Mina was able to drag the drunk blond back to the table, and Kirishima came willingly when he saw you wave at him across the bar. Back in your private section, the guys bombarded you with questions, asking if you were alright, where you went, if you were hurt. You quickly assuaged their fears and apologized for worrying them— while deftly avoiding any mention of a certain ash-blond hero— and you offered to buy the next round to make up for it.

That idea was immediately shot down, but they did agree to another round, so Mina flagged down a waiter while the guys herded you into the booth, with Sero and Kaminari on either side of you. The blond drunkenly leaned his head against your shoulder and begged you not to disappear again because it was his birthday, and you promised not to move as you awkwardly patted his head.

Kirishima shook his head from across the table, but then he caught your eye and mouthed, “Are you okay?”

You nodded and smiled, trying to look like you were having fun. And a part of you did. The drinks arrived shortly, and the table was loud with laughter as the heroes retold more tales of their youth and heroic exploits gone awry. You laughed and smiled along with them, even if you only sipped at your drink while they downed theirs and ordered more sake. They asked more questions about your past and America, Sero and Kaminari especially, and you did your best to make your boring life sound even a little bit exciting.

You must have succeeded because each of the heroes listened intently when you spoke, interjecting appropriate questions and tidbits here and there. You relaxed a little more with each story told and question answered, but you couldn’t stop your eyes from wandering past the wooden partition around the table.

Bakugo was gone, though, you knew it deep down even as you searched for a flash of ash-blond hair. You tried to push him out of your mind, tried not to think about the incident out on the patio, but as the night wore down and the talking petered out, your thoughts became consumed with how badly you fucked up.

What were you thinking, kissing a pro hero? You wished you could say you weren’t thinking, that you were drunk, but you stole that excuse from yourself the moment you used your quirk.

For a moment, the realization that Bakugo hadn’t been drunk either filled you with an emotion you refused to name, and you recalled the desire in his scarlet eyes as he clutched you against him.

But then you reminded yourself of how fast he pushed you away, how fast he’d fled the patio and didn’t look back, and you told yourself you had imagined the look on his face when he pulled away from your lips. It had to have been a pity kiss. Poor, homeless Stitches, who had no friends and couldn’t stand up for herself, who always need saving, who had failed the hero entrance exam twice and then fled America when she also failed to find a job in her degree field. Poor Stitches, whose greatest achievement in the last year was fixing an old lady’s fractured hip.

Pity. There was no other reason Pro Hero Dynamight would stoop so low as to kiss you. It was probably the same reason the rest of the heroes seemed so interested in you tonight. Part of it might have been novelty— an American civilian who worked a menial job— but the rest of it had to be pity. Maybe Kirishima had texted them all before you guys arrived and told them to just treat you nicely for the night.

This knowledge tied your guts up in knots, bile rising to the back of your throat. You were trying to center yourself by counting the fading bubbles in your warm, untouched beer when a large hand flashed in front of your face.

“What?” You snapped your head up to find everyone staring at you, Kirishima still stretched halfway across the table as he withdrew his hand.

“I was asking if you’re ready to go,” the redhead said with a soft smile before he jerked his chin at your side. “Denks just passed out, and that’s usually when we call it a night.”

You turned your head slightly to find the blond electric hero slumped in the booth beside you, his head tipped back as snores echoed from his slack mouth.

“O-Oh, yeah,” you murmured. “Sorry, yeah, I’m ready.”

“Cool, this way,” Sero said as he slid out of the opposite side of the booth and held a hand out to help you.

“Thank you.” You took his hand and gracelessly scooted out of the booth, blushing when you realized Bakugo’s bomber jacket was still draped over your shoulders.

Thankfully, Sero didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he didn’t comment, but his hand lingered around yours for a moment before he pulled away and turned to Kirishima.

“Alright, dude,” he said as he balled one hand up and held it on top of the opposite palm. “You know the drill.”

“I need to take Stitches back to the agency,” Kirishima argued with a frown. “You’ll have to get him tonight, but I’ll get him next time.”

“Uh-uh, don’t try and weasel out now, Riot,” Sero teased, and his mouth settled in an expression somewhere between a smirk and a grin. “It’s tradition. Besides, I know where your agency is. I’m pretty sure I could get Stitches back there just fine.”

He threw you a wink as he said that last sentence, and you flushed under his attention.

It’s fake, you reminded yourself. Pity.

“U-Um, what’s going on?” you asked, to which Mina giggled and looped her arm through yours.

“Just watch,” she whispered, and you turned back to the men to see Kirishima rolling his eyes.

“Fine,” he said and then held his hands out identical to Sero’s.

Wait, were they going to—

“Jan, ken, pon!” the two heroes chanted as they moved their hands in unison.

Yup, they were playing rock, paper, scissors.

“Ha-ha!” Kirishima cheered as his scissors cut Sero’s paper. “I win.”

“Shit,” Sero sighed, but another easygoing grin spread across his mouth a moment later. “You’re learning, dude.”

“Mina pointed out last time that I always start with rock, so I decided to change it up,” the redhead laughed and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Oh, come on, Pinks,” the dark-haired hero groaned as he turned on Mina. “You threw off my winning streak.”

“I just evened the playing field.” She stuck her tongue out at him, but her two-toned eyes twinkled with mirth. “Don’t be a sore loser, Han.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sero sighed, but you could tell he was fighting back a smile as he rounded the table and came up to the opposite side of the booth. “Come on, Denks, up you go.”

The tall and lanky hero bent down and tossed Kaminari’s limp arm over his shoulder, coaxing the half-conscious blond to his feet.

“Are we… getting another round?” Kaminari slurred as he slumped against Sero, and his yellow eyes were struggling to flutter open.

“No,” Sero snorted and wrapped an arm around the blond’s waist. “We’re getting you home. Can you walk, or do I gotta tape ya?”

“I can walkkkk,” Kaminari whined and then immediately stumbled over his own feet, half careening into the table and rattling the dishes.

“Tape it is,” Sero muttered, and you watched as what looked like a white bandage slithered out of his elbow.

“Noooooo,” Kaminari half-protested, but he didn’t even fight it as the tape started at his feet and wound around his body, encasing him in a white cocoon. The adhesive strip came to a stop just under his neck so he could still breathe, and the blond pouted blearily at his friends. “I hate you all.”

“Love ya too, buddy,” Sero snickered before he turned to you, Mina, and Kirishima. “You guys ready?”

“Yup!” Mina chirped and tugged on your elbow to spin you around. “Onward!”

“Uhhhh, is Kaminari gonna be okay?” you asked as you were dragged toward the entrance, glancing over your shoulder to see Sero squatting down, picking up the cocooned electric hero, and throwing him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Yeah, this isn’t the first time he’s been taped, he’ll be fine,” Mina giggled and then shot you a wink. “He might be embarrassed in the morning when he learns you saw him get taped, but he’ll survive.”

“O-Oh, okay,” you said, because what else could you say? This was obviously a normal end of the night for the heroes, so who were you to judge?

Mina expertly guided you out of the bar without drawing any attention from the lingering drunks, and when you glanced at the old clock above the front door, you saw it was long past midnight.

How did it get so late?

The cold night air hit you like a slap to the face as you stepped out of the bar, and you shivered, ducking a little bit into you jacket until you got a whiff of burnt sugar off the collar and remembered it wasn’t your jacket. Embarrassment crawled through your veins like ants, but you were thankfully distracted from the sensation by a commotion behind you.

“Damn it, Denki, stop struggling,” Sero huffed as he clomped down the stairs with a wriggling Kaminari still thrown over his shoulder. The pair came to a stop on the sidewalk beside you and Mina, and the dark-haired hero grunted as he shifted the blond’s weight. “Ugh, where’s Ochako when I need her?”

“If I’m so heavy, then put me down,” Kaminari said and continued wiggling. “I can walk.”

“Remember the last time you said that, Denks, and you ended up going to the hospital because you knocked out two teeth faceplanting into a curb?” Kirishima chuckled as he came down the stairs last.

“That was one time!” the blond whined, and he arched like a worm writhing on a hook. “And it’s my birthday! I shouldn’t be taped on my birthday!”

“Denki, if you don’t stop, I’m dragging you all the way home,” Sero warned, and he must have been serious, because Kaminari immediately stopped struggling.

“Fine,” he pouted. “I’m going to sleep, then. Take that.”

Sero rolled his dark eyes before they came to settle on you, and then a small smile tugged at his lips.

“It was nice to meet you,” he said. “I hope our shenanigans haven’t completely chased you off.”

“No, no,” you assured him quickly, and your own smile was only a little forced. “Tonight was… fun. More fun than I’ve had in a while. So, thank you for having me.”

Thank you for pretending, you didn’t say.

“Aw, you’re so cute and polite,” Mina cooed before she leaned over and smacked a kiss against your cheek, causing you to blush as red as Kirishima’s hair. But you told yourself that the pink-skinned hero just seemed affectionate with everyone, that was all.

“W-Wait, is that Stitches?” Kaminari suddenly gasped and renewed his struggling. “She’s still here? Sero, put me down! I need to say goodbye.”

“Oops, that’s our cue.” Sero smirked and glanced at Mina. “You coming, or making your own way home?”

“Someone’s gotta make sure you both end up home in one piece,” the pink-haired hero giggled and then held up the hand that wasn’t looped through yours, flashing the phone she held. “I already ordered us a car. They’re like a minute away and are meeting us at the corner down there.”

She gestured past Sero, and he glanced over his right shoulder with Kaminari still wiggling on the left one.

“Alright, let’s go,” he said before he flashed you one last wink. “Have a good night, Stitches. Hope to see you soon.”

“Y-Yeah, you, too.” You smiled faintly, fighting back you blush. He was just being nice, polite, he didn’t mean it. “Get home safe.”

“I’ll text you with my schedule this week so we can plan a girl’s day,” Mina said as she disentangled her arm from yours and pressed another kiss to your cheek. “Bye!”

“B-Bye,” you stuttered, waving weakly as the pink-skinned hero skipped over to Sero’s side, and then the two turned and started walking down the street in the opposite direction.

“Uh, bye, guys,” Kirishima called out after his friends as he stepped up next to you.

“Oh, yeah, bye, Kiri!” Mina blew a kiss over her shoulder while Sero half-heartedly lifted his hand but didn’t turn.

“Wait! Stitchessssss!” Kaminari managed to crane his head up just enough to catch a glimpse of you, and then he bucked right off Sero’s shoulder, tumbling to the ground.

“Oh!” you gasped, covering your mouth and glancing at Kirishima. “Is he okay?”

“He’ll be fine,” the redhead laughed, and he jerked his chin toward his friends. “See?”

You looked up in time to see Sero shake his head down at Kaminari, who had flipped over onto his stomach and was trying to inch worm his way down the sidewalk back in your direction. Sero muttered something to the blond that you couldn’t hear, but Kaminari kept crawling, so the dark-haired hero shrugged and started walking forward again.

“Noooooo,” Kaminari wailed as he was dragged backwards by the tape encasing his body, and he called out your nickname several times before the tape slithered up his neck and over his mouth, muffling his screams.

“I could have said goodbye to him, if it meant so much,” you said with a furrowed brow.

“We would have been here for another hour,” Kirishima chuckled and shook his head. “On his last birthday, Denki started crying about how much he loved everyone, and he wrapped himself around Bakugo’s legs, refusing to let go and causing a major scene. Which Bakubro escalated by blasting him off, but… yeah. This was as quick and painless as it gets.”

“If you say so,” you murmured, suppressing a wince when you saw Kaminari get dragged over the curb on the corner while Sero and Mina approached a waiting car.

“Sero won’t hurt him too much, just enough to hopefully knock some sense into him so they don’t get kicked out of the car.” The redhead smiled down at you reassuringly before he extended his elbow. “We should be on our way, too. It’s later than I intended, sorry about that.”

“It’s fine, really.” You smiled back and tentatively took his elbow. “I wasn’t lying before. I had fun. I just hope I didn’t embarrass myself too much or bore anyone with my American stories.”

“Are you kidding?” Kirishima scoffed as the pair of you started walking down the street in the direction of his agency. “Everyone loved you. And I thought your American stories were so cool! Especially the college ones. Bakugo and I just started climbing the hero ranks straight out of U.A., so the fact that you got a degree is really impressive to me.”

“Getting a piece of paper is definitely not as impressive as becoming the Number Three Hero by your mid-twenties,” you snorted.

“Nah, I mainly just rode Bakugo’s coat tails up the ladder.” The hardening hero shrugged, and you could see a faint blush stain his cheeks, but then he was looking down at you with a frown. “You talk down on yourself a lot, you know.”

“W-What?” Your feet stuttered along with your mouth, and you slipped off the curb and would have twisted your ankle if Kirishima hadn’t held you up.

“Whoops, careful,” he said as he literally picked you up with one arm— with you still clutching to the curve of his elbow like a kid hanging off the monkey bars— and set you back down on your feet. “You okay?”

“Y-Yup.” You cleared your throat and tried to fight back your embarrassed flush. Then you took a deep breath and watched your feet closely as the two of you started walking again. “Sorry, I’m just… stupidly clumsy.”

“There you go again,” Kirishima said and bumped his shoulder into yours, except your head was level with his shoulder, so he nearly shoved you off the curb again. “Oops, my bad. But seriously, Stitches, you shouldn’t talk down on yourself so much. Or apologize so much. I swear I’ve heard you apologize for breathing before. But you’re a genuinely cool person. You’re obviously smart, what with the knowing multiple languages, the degree, and you even own your own business! That’s so awesome!”

“I’m just a seamstress,” you muttered, and you swore your face was on fire now. You were anticipating actual flames any second now. You kept trying to tell yourself he was just being nice, but he sounded so genuine, so earnest, and you didn’t know what to do with that.

“You provide an important service to the public,” the redhead corrected, bumping you with his shoulder again, but much softer this time. Then he smiled down at you, and you couldn’t help but smile faintly back. “A-ha! There it is. Knew I could get you to smile. Seriously, though, you’ve accomplished a lot, so you really shouldn’t talk bad about my friend like that.”

“Your… friend?” you echoed in disbelief.

“Well, yeah,” Kirishima said as he looked down at you, and his red eyes were serious and sincere. “I know we haven’t known each other long, but… I consider you a friend. Hell, you’ve already made dinner for me more times than Denki, so you might be a better friend than he is.”

The hardening hero grinned to show he was joking, but all you could do was blink up at him in shock. He… thought of you as a friend? You’d considered yourself an acquaintance at best, but more likely a burden and obligation. But you knew Kirishima wouldn’t just outright lie to you. He was too… good for that, too honest and straightforward.

So… maybe everyone hadn’t just been pretending tonight. Maybe they didn’t pity you. Maybe they actually… liked you.

The thought had hope and happiness rising in your chest like birds taking flight, but then the image of Bakugo marching away from you flashed through your mind, and the birds were shot out of the sky.

Well, obviously not everyone liked you.

“Uh, Stitches?” Kirishima’s voice drew you from your thoughts, and you shook your head before looking up at him.

“Sorry,” you said, manipulating your stiff lips into a small smile. “I was just… surprised you think of me that way.”

“You don’t think of us as friends?” He frowned, and there was a note of hurt in his voice.

“N-No, I just… I didn’t want to presume anything,” you muttered and averted your gaze to watch a car drive by. It was easier to gather your thoughts when you weren’t looking at the imposing redhead, so you took a deep breath before you continued. “I’ve really enjoyed my time at the agency so far. The sidekicks always ask me about my day when I go downstairs, and sometimes we talk about the latest TV shows while standing around the coffee machine in the breakroom. I’ve liked learning and buying their favorite snacks, and the few times you and I ate dinner were fun. It’s been… nice. Really nice. I’ve never really had a lot of friends. I was always the weird Asian girl who had an accent until the second grade, and even when I lost it, I was still one of a few ‘ethnic’ people in a mostly white area. And when I moved here, even though I speak the language, sometimes people can tell I’m American and just… treat me differently.”

“That sucks,” Kirishima muttered as his frown deepened in your peripherals. “I’m sorry.”

“It is what it is.” You shrugged and tried to seem unbothered even though your ‘otherness’ had eaten away at you all your life. “But what I’m trying to say is, it’s not that I didn’t want to think of you all as friends. It’s just… you’re all really important heroes, and I know that the only reason I even came to the agency was because you had to pay for the repairs on my shop. So I just thought…”

“That we were only being nice because we had to?” Kirishima finished.

“Well… yeah,” you murmured and blushed, because now that you said it out loud, it sounded like you thought the redhead and the rest of the sidekicks were all shallow and two-faced, which wasn’t fair to them.

“And do you still think that?” he asked, but there wasn’t any judgement in his voice. It was an honest question.

You glanced at the hardening hero out of the corner of your eye, and you found him staring down at you patiently. You recalled how excited he had been to invite you tonight, to introduce you to his friends, how he had searched for you when he thought you were missing. None of that felt like obligation to you, and you realized that your own insecurities made you form some unfair assumptions about him and the other heroes that you’d encountered in the last week.

“No,” you finally said, and it didn’t taste like a lie. “No, I don’t.”

“Good.” Kirishima grinned down at you. “Because the last time I invited someone to hang out with my friends out of obligation, I was like… five, and my mom said I had to invite my whole class to my birthday party, even the mean kid who liked to push everyone down at recess. And you’re definitely much more fun to hang out with than that butthead Shin Okamura.”

You giggled at that, and the sound made Kirishima’s grin widen.

“Alright, fine,” you huffed and rolled your eyes, but your smile only grew. “I’ll… stop being so self-deprecating.”

“Good,” Kirishima repeated as he continued leading you to his agency, but when he looked down at you again, he was suddenly serious. “Just remember. You don’t have to be a hero to make a difference in the world.”

You’d heard the same platitudes from your parents, from your college professors, and you sighed.

“I know—”

“You could be a back alley healer, for example.”

You gasped and stumbled again, glancing around for anyone who might have overheard, but the street was empty and quiet save the two of you. Still, your heart was tap dancing off rhythm beneath your sternum, and you squeezed Kirishima’s arm from where you still had your hand tucked into his elbow.

“Ow! Okay, sorry, sorry!” Kirishima burst out laughing and pretended to cower away from you, but the effect was ruined by the grin breaking his face in half.

And you couldn’t quite hide your own smile, either.

The pair of you dissolved into silence for a minute as you continued walking down the street, and when you turned the next corner, you could see the agency looming up into the night sky at the end of the block.

“Hey, Stitches, can I ask you something, friend to friend?” Kirishima finally broke the silence, and something about his phrasing immediately set you on edge, your good mood evaporating like smoke.

“Uhh, sure,” you said and hoped you wouldn’t regret it.

“Did something happen between you and Bakugo? Back at the bar?” His red eyes cut to yours, so similar to another pair of red eyes that you were trying not to think about, and your mouth immediately went dry. Your mind flailed for a response, but the redhead barreled on. “It’s just… I noticed you came back wearing his jacket after you disappeared, and you seemed a little upset?”

“I did?” The words fell from your mouth unbidden, and you winced. You had thought you got your mask up in time.

“I mean, you were smiling and stuff, but your eyes looked kind of sad,” Kirishima said, frowning down at you. “I just wanted to make sure Bakubro didn’t upset you somehow.”

“N-No, no,” you blurted out, even though your heart was screaming yes. “He… I ran into him coming back from the bathroom. He was outside on the patio. I went to join him— t-to ask if he was coming back to the table— but some guys who were out there smoking started giving me a hard time. But Bakugo chased them off and gave me his jacket since I was cold. H-He said he didn’t want me getting sick and giving the agency a bad rep or something.”

You hoped the reasoning you gave for Bakugo handing over his jacket made sense. It was the only logical explanation you could come up with.

“Oh.” Kirishima blinked and seemed to process your words for a moment. “Well, I’m sorry some assholes were bothering you. You should have said something.”

“It really wasn’t a big deal,” you said dismissively, trying to forget the way your heart had jumped into your throat when those three men surrounded you. “And Bakugo handled it.”

“I’m sure he did,” the redhead muttered, and when you looked up at him, he was smirking.

“What do you mean?” you asked.

“Ahhh, nothing.” Kirishima cleared his throat. “Oh, look! We’re here.”

The agency suddenly loomed above you, and Kirishima stopped just in front of the doors. You could see a few sidekicks through the glass doors, the poor bastards who’d pulled the short straw and gotten the night shift on a Saturday, but they were mainly just yawning at their desks or walking back and forth to the coffee machine in the break room.

“Do you want me to walk you up?” Kirishima asked as he moved to open the door.

“No,” you refused, stopping him. “It’s late, and you’re off the clock ‘till Monday. Go home, Red Riot. I can make it up the elevator on my own.”

“Alright, alright.” The hardening hero smiled and held up his hands. “I’ll get going. But… thanks for coming out tonight.”

“I think I’m the one who should be thanking you,” you chuckled, but then a gust of wind wafted the scent of burnt sugar into your nose, and your smiled faded as you cleared your throat and slowly shrugged off the jacket draped over your shoulders. “Actually, could you, um, extend my gratitude to Bakugo as well and give this back to him when you see him next?”

You extended the jacket out to the redhead, but Kirishima just stared at it for a second before shaking his head.

“You’ll probably see him before I do, so keep it for now,” he said. “Bakugo has a shift tomorrow evening, so you can just come downstairs and return it to him then. Or I’m sure he’d be fine with you leaving it in his office.”

The thought of even seeing the blond right now made your stomach flip and your body break out in a cold sweat, but you covered it up with a smile as you clutched the jacket to your chest.

“Oh, okay,” you said, praying your voice wasn’t as shaky as you thought it was. “I’ll just… do that then.”

“Cool.” Kirishima shot you a smile. “Well, I better get going. I can feel the whisky making my eyelids heavy.”

“Do you need to order a car or something?” you asked with a concerned frown.

“Nah, I only live a couple blocks away, I’ll be fine,” he said as he waved you off, and then he jerked his chin at the agency doors. “You should get inside first, though, or I’ll worry that you got snatched the moment I turned my back.”

“I definitely don’t want to get snatched,” you laughed and reached for the door. “Have a good night, Kirishima. Get home safe.”

“Will do.” He grinned, flashing his pointed teeth. “Night, Stitches.”

“Night.” You smiled over your shoulder as you opened the door, and true to his word, the hardening hero waited until you were safe inside the agency lobby before he put two fingers to his forehead in a salute, turned, and walked out of sight.

The moment he was gone, you felt the smile slowly slide off your face. It was hard to be upset in the redhead’s presence, he just exuded so much warmth and happiness, but now that you were alone, clutching Bakugo’s jacket to your chest, all of the thoughts you’d been suppressing came bubbling back up to the surface.

You tried to keep your face composed as your turned and made your way to the elevator. The few dozing sidekicks in the bullpen greeted you halfheartedly, and you waved weakly in return. Then your eyes trailed past them to the darkened, glass walled office that you knew belonged to Bakugo. You considered dropping off the jacket on his desk or chair like Kirishima suggested, just to get it away from you, but then you thought of the sidekicks watching you walk to the office, wondering what you were doing, speculating as to why you had their boss’ jacket, and you abandoned the idea as you jammed your finger into the elevator button.

It was only after the elevator doors closed behind you, only when you were standing alone staring at your fuzzy reflection, that you let the tears come. They quickly blurred your vision, burned in the back of your throat, but you managed to hit the button for your floor and stumbled into your room before you truly started crying. You didn’t know if there were any sidekicks sleeping on this floor, so you forced yourself to be quiet, pressing your lips together and only gasping when you needed air.

You immediately threw the jacket over the back of your desk chair, desperate to get away from the caramelized scent, but you realized it still clung to your dress, your hair. So, with tears streaming down your face, you stripped down to your panties, dropping everything onto the floor, tearing your jewelry off and tossing it onto your desk. You only had enough energy to pull on a hoodie before you collapsed into the bed, and you shivered, still crying, as you tugged the covers up over your head.

Fuck, how could you have been so stupid? You’d done a lot of stupid things in your life, but kissing Dynamight took the cake. The blond had only brought you to the agency for two reasons: insurance purposes and your quirk. He needed a healer, someone to fix his ears so he could keep fighting the good fight. And you were convenient. You needed to stay at the agency anyway while your shop was repaired, so you were supposed to use your quirk in the interim to help him with his problem.

Except now, you were pretty sure you ruined that. Because Bakugo didn’t want you like you wanted him. He made that pretty obvious. So he probably wouldn’t want your help anymore, because who wanted to receive medical care from someone lusting after them inappropriately?

And what if he kicked you out of the agency entirely? You didn’t necessarily have to stay here, the agency just had to pay for your lodgings until your apartment was fixed, so Bakugo could just send you to a hotel first thing in the morning, get you out of his hair for the last week or two.

You knew you couldn’t stay at the agency forever, but you had been telling Kirishima the truth earlier. You liked it here. You liked seeing the sidekicks on a regular basis, liked it when Kirishima poked his head into the kitchen to see what you were cooking. You didn’t want to leave just yet.

So… you would just have to apologize.

Bakugo had a shift tomorrow night, which meant you had over twelve hours to figure out what you were going to say. Then you’d go downstairs, find the blond, return his jacket, and bow your head to the floor to apologize for being so forward and inappropriate and… pitiful.

Hopefully, he would accept it.

You fell asleep sniffling, with your eyes swollen from tears. And because the universe was cruel, you dreamed of ash-blood hair and crimson eyes. Of warm hands around your waist and even warmer lips against your own. In one part of the dream, you were back on that patio, Bakugo looming over you, wrapped around you. His kiss burned like fire, like an iron brand pulled straight from the flames, and you felt the heat consume you. In this dream, neither of you needed to part for air, and Mina didn’t come outside. You both were just suspended in time— lips and tongues and hands— and Bakugo devoured you one biting kiss at a time.

You awoke with your mouth tingling, with the smell of burning sugar in your nose, before reality came crashing back down and pinned you to the bed. The weight on your chest kept you submerged beneath the blankets most of the day, only slightly letting up in the afternoon when your bladder was on the verge of bursting. You dragged yourself to your feet and to the bathroom down the hall, but after relieving yourself, you just shuffled right back to bed. When you checked your phone, you saw it was almost four o’clock, and your stomach rumbled, begging for more than the finger foods you’d had at the bar last night. But you still hadn’t gone grocery shopping, so if you wanted anything more than snacks, you would have to go out, and the thought of potentially running into Bakugo downstairs turned your blood to ice.

You knew you still needed to apologize, but you just… couldn’t bring yourself to do it, so instead you burrowed back under the blankets and turned to face the wall.

You would allow yourself one day to wallow. Then, tomorrow, Monday, you’d shove all your feelings back into a box where they belonged, do the adult thing, and apologize.

Unfortunately, as you should have already learned, things don’t always go to plan.

True to your word, you did get up at dawn the next morning, showered, ate, dressed like a functional human being. You even ran errands, stopping by the shop to see how construction was coming along, picking up some small projects from your clients, doing the grocery run you’d been putting off for so long.

When you returned to the agency around midday, you stopped by the first floor breakroom to fill the fridge with snacks, and the sidekicks immediately flocked to the goodies. Even Kirishima stuck his head into the room to say hi, dressed in his full Red Riot gear. He said he was about to go out on patrol, and the two of you made quick, casual conversation before movement beyond the redhead caught your attention.

Bakugo had stopped a few feet beyond the threshold of the breakroom, also decked out in all his hero gear. You only had a moment to take in the full, imposing figure he cut in his suit before your eyes found his, and the moment they did, the blond’s face hardened into stone. You saw the muscle in his jaw tick as he ground his teeth, but then he spun away and stomped off, even when Kirishima called out after him.

The redhead had rolled his eyes and said the blond was in a mood day, but you knew it was more than that.

He was avoiding you, didn’t want to even see you. And he continued to avoid you for the rest of that day and the following. Whenever you stepped off the elevator, if he was in eyesight, he immediately disappeared, stalking off to the locker or training rooms or darkening the glass walls surrounding his office. He obviously didn’t want to talk to you, and every time he met your eyes and instantly retreated in the opposite direction, your heart squeezed in your chest.

But he hadn’t kicked you out of the agency, so that was something at least.

Mina also helped keep you from spiraling. The pink-haired hero texted you multiple times a day, sometimes just sending a funny picture or meme, other times telling you about a crazy thing that happened on her patrol. She had in fact also added you to a group chat with Kirishima, Sero, and Denki, so you received some messages from them every now and again. Bakugo was technically in the group chat, too— or at least you thought he was, since there was another number listed in the chat, but the number never replied to anything, so you couldn’t be sure. Still, it was nice to get messages from people other than your parents and your elderly customers who struggled with technology. It helped balance out the weight that had grown heavier in your chest with each passing hour.

By Tuesday night, you came to the realization that Bakugo would probably continue ignoring you until you left the agency. You tried to convince yourself that you were fine with this. Soon, your shop would be fixed, and everything would go back to normal. You’d go back to being a seamstress with a slightly illegal side hustle, and it would be like you never met the blond. It wasn’t like you’d been particularly close, anyway. Sure, you were attracted to him physically, but who wouldn’t be? And okay, you admired his tenacity as a pro hero, his bravery and relentlessness in the face of adversity and danger, but so did a lot of other people. It was just… a celebrity crush. You would get over it.

You had to.

“Shit,” you cursed for the umpteenth time in the last half hour, frowning down at the bead of blood crowning your fingertip.

Your quirk washed away the minute pain almost immediately, but you just sighed and set down your needle and thread. You’d been trying to mend a hole in Mr. Fujita’s slacks, but you were too distracted, and if you continued like this, you were going to return the pants with blood stains.

You stretched your back and decided to get up from the little desk you’d been hunched over for the past few hours. Picking your phone up, you realized it was almost eight pm, and your stomach snarled as if to reprimand you. A quick dinner would probably be best, maybe some of the instant ramen you picked up at the store yesterday.

You glanced at the door and then sighed when you realized you would actually have to walk down the hall to make the dinner yourself. The kitchen seemed so far away when you thought about it, so you decided to take a ten minute break on your bed. The hunger would probably be enough to motivate you by then.

Collapsing onto the bed, you picked a social media app at random and then just started scrolling. It kept your interest for a minute or two, but then— because of some of your recent searches— a video of a deaf baby getting a cochlear implant popped up on your feed, and your eyes immediately trailed to the shadow of Bakugo’s jacket hanging from a hook on the inside of your door. From this angle, you could see the sheaf of papers you’d rolled up and stuffed into the inside pocket, and you once again considered just walking downstairs and leaving the jacket in his office. The interns might gossip, but you would probably be gone in a week. You could survive the whispers and looks for that long.

You stared at the jacket for a long moment before you sighed and flicked your eyes back to your phone.

“Coward,” you muttered to yourself and angrily started scrolling again.

You weren’t even paying attention to the posts and videos you scrolled past, but you sure as hell noticed when a loud boom suddenly rattled your windows right before the building trembled slightly around you.

You inhaled sharply as your eyes snapped to the darkened window beside your bed. Your heartrate increased, skipping beats, because that sounded familiar, felt familiar. You slowly went to put your phone down on the bed, but your finger twitched across the screen, swiping to the next video, which happened to be a live news feed.

“— here downtown! Three villains have robbed a nearby bank, and they seem to be giving Dynamight some trouble!”

“Dynamight?” you gasped as you scrambled to pick up your phone.

The camera footage was shaky and cloudy, like there was smoke or dust in the air, and it seemed like the news team was peeking out around the corner of a building. You couldn’t see much through the haze, but then an explosion of light crossed the screen, followed by a boom that you heard through the phone’s speakers and through the glass of your window.

“No,” you breathed as your wide eyes drifted toward the window. Then you propelled yourself to your feet and stood on your tiptoes to look outside. Your room was on one of the higher floors of the agency, and the agency itself was one of the tallest buildings on the block, so you could see at least a block or two from your vantage point.

You craned your neck, holding your breath as you waited for the next explosion, which came a moment later. It was accompanied by another flash of light in your peripherals, and you could just barely see a cloud of dust in the very corner of the window. It seemed like the battle was happening a couple blocks to the right of the agency, and you frantically turned back to the phone in your hand as the newscaster started talking again.

“From what we’re witnessing, one villain seems to have an offensive electric quirk, another turns anything they touch into a sticky sludge, and the third is able to produce bubbles that seem to capture and incapacitate. Dynamight is battling them singlehandedly, after several other heroes— possibly sidekicks from his agency— were trapped by the bubble villain’s quirk.”

The camera quickly panned over a destroyed road that looked like your street had just a week ago. Rubble and pockets of black goo covered the broken pavement, and through the haze of dust or smoke, you could just make out several dome-like shapes with human figures inside them, like a perverse kind of toy from one of those coin machines. The trapped heroes were hammering at the walls surrounding them, but whatever the bubble was made of must have been strong, because the heroes were making no headway.

You snapped your gaze from the phone, to the window, and back again, praying to catch a glimpse of Dynamight’s bright orange suit, but the cameraman was ducking for cover again as another explosion rocked the street, and your heart climbed into your throat.

“Come on, come on,” you muttered as you clutched your phone in sweaty palms. You knew Bakugo was strong, he wouldn’t be Number Two otherwise, but you knew every explosion diminished his hearing, and the booms were starting to become rapid fire.

“Oh my— what is that?” the newscaster suddenly gasped, and a hand cut across the camera, pointing at something off screen. “Is that… is that a child?!”

The footage zoomed in too quickly and took a moment to focus, but then the cloudy outline of a child materialized into being. By size, you would guess he was around six years old, and you could just barely hear him crying over the newscaster’s heavy breathing and the staccato explosions. Then a more high-pitched screaming started, and the camera panned to a mother running out of a nearby alley, trying to reach her baby in the chaos.

What happened next seemed to occur in slow motion.

The camera zoomed out to take in more of the street, and a villain careened onto the screen. He seemed to have been thrown, or maybe he leapt, but he landed on his feet a few yards away from the wailing child, just as the screaming mother threw her arms around him. The villain’s upper lip seemed to curl up in disgust, and then he aimed one of his palms at the mother and son.

A bubble shot out of his hand like a bullet, expanding as it went, but just before it swallowed the wailing duo, an explosion of light and orange color shoved them out of the way.

“No!” you gasped, but it was too late, and you watched helplessly as Bakugo was swallowed by the bubble.

The blond rolled in his round cage until he slammed up against an overturned car, and you saw him shake his head as he climbed back onto his feet. He smacked one of his palms against the bubble, but the wall barely even rippled. Bakugo tried again, his hand glowing slightly orange, but still nothing happened.

“Oh god, Dynamight’s been captured!” the reporter cried out.

Meanwhile, the mother and son were still cowering in the middle of the street, frozen in fear and maybe pain, and the bubble villain was standing over them, smirking in triumph.

He raised his palm again, but your eyes were glued to Bakugo, because he was now standing in the middle of his bubble prison, with both of his own hands extended out in front of him. His mouth was twisted into a snarl, and his palms were wreathed in an orange glow that quickly turned white-hot, right before he reached for the pin on one of his gauntlets.

You suddenly realized what he was going to do.

“Bakugo, no!” you shouted like he could hear you, but it was futile.

The bubble he was trapped in suddenly lit up like the Fourth of July, becoming almost too bright to look at, before it exploded so loudly that the sound from the camera completely cut out.

The footage was nothing but dust and frantic movement for almost thirty seconds, but when it finally cleared, the street was empty. The camera jumped around then, trying to find the villains, Bakugo, but it suddenly settled on the mother and son again.

They were safe and somehow unharmed, half a block down from where they were just a moment ago. Confusion overtook your terror for a moment, but then you saw a flash of red, just before the camera focused on Kirishima, who was standing protectively in front of the mother and son.

Suddenly, the audio returned on the video.

“—Riot! I repeat, Red Riot is now on scene, accompanied by two sidekicks!”

Kirishima looked nothing like the smiling teddy bear that walked around the agency. His face was set in an intimidating scowl, and his massive body seemed even bigger as he glared at the villains off screen. His silhouette was jagged, his muscles— that you knew were harder than steel— sticking out at sharp angles. His bare chest was streaked with dust, but he seemed unharmed, and you felt a brief flash of relief.

But it quickly turned to dread the longer Bakugo was off screen.

Where was he? Had he hurt himself in the explosion?

Before the bile could eat through the base of your throat, a body suddenly flew past the camera, and the cameraman followed it as quickly as he could. The footage settled just as the bubble villain skidded to a stop on the broken asphalt, and then the camera jumped to Bakugo, who was standing in the middle of the road with his teeth bared.

You let out a breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding. The blond was alive. He was alive.

“Dynamight seems to be back in action!” the reporter announced. “With Red Riot now on scene, the legendary duo should make quick work of these villains.”

You wanted to believe the reporter, but as the camera zoomed in on Bakugo, you saw the blood dripping from his ears, saw the way he swayed on his feet. Using his quirk to blast out of the bubble had most likely obliterated his eardrums, and you knew that disrupting the fluid in the inner ear resulted in balance problems. The explosive hero was probably fighting terrible vertigo just to stay on his feet.

Would he be able to stay upright long enough to subdue the villains?

You stared at the phone in your hand for one second, two, before you were spinning on your heel. You were in a casual pair of sweats, and you shoved your sockless feet into your sneakers as you grabbed Bakugo’s jacket off the hook, wrenched open your door, and sprinted down the hallway to the stairs.

You just hoped you could get there in time.

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artificialqueens · 1 year

Text

Part of Your World, Ch. 4 (Raja x Adore) for Dartmouth420 - Grinder

AN: Apologies for uploading this so late! I haven’t forgotten about it. And, this chapter has smut, thank god (although it was written by me and, like, I’m not amazing at this kind of stuff but I hope yall like it anyway.)

Fishing went exactly how Raja expected — judgement…judgement from Bianca.

“So you want to turn her into a human,” the witch had said, tossing a spear into the waters before her.

Raja didn’t want this — a discussion. She hadn’t been to the beach in so long. This could have been time to soak it all in. But Bianca just couldn’t help but…well, be Bianca.

“I mean, yes, I want to turn her human. But I won’t be the one carrying the spell out,” Raja tossed her speer too. “Raven will do the dirty work. Thank’s for the information.”

Bianca chose to ignore the remark and refrained from calling Raja out on the fact that she gave that information against her will. Instead, she only said, “You’re kinda obsessed with your mermaid.”

The dark witch spared Bianca a glance, the two going to fetch their weapons again. “I’m not obsessed. I’m in love.” She pulled the spear from the water, finding nothing on the bottom. “We’re tethered, Bianca.”

“I know - I know.”

And Raja glanced at her again. “You sound…disappointed.”

Bianca didn’t answer immediately, searching her brain for a spell that would make the fishing less taxing. But with shit on her mind, she couldn’t think. “I just…I wish there was another way.”

Raja whirled around to look at her best friend, her dress treading the water. “Another way?”

Bianca held her hands up in defence, signalling she would say no more. Raja wanted to press her for a real response, but at the same time, she knew deep down this conversation was already exhausting.

Nothing else Adore-related was said until they returned to the camp two hours later, having managed to catch five fish.

That’s when they saw the whole camp of witches gathered around Raja’s hut.

“The fuck?” The dark witch said, dropping her bag of fish to the ground and rushing towards her home. Her heart was pounding now. Did something happen to Adore while they were gone?

“Move, bitches!” Bianca yelled as both witches shoved past the crowd.

“Sorry, Raja,” Farrah said, allowing the two to pass through.

Once inside, they could see how they all gathered around the now filled tub, Adore leisuring to her heart’s content, fins flapping slightly, signalling her delight. The last time Raja had seen the mermaid, she was deep in sleep, hydrating her body.

Now everyone was gathered around, babbling to her about all sorts of things.

“I got another one,” the enigmatic Katya was sitting on the ground beside the tub, Adore’s attention solely on her, “What do you call two witches who live together? Broom-mates!”

Not one laugh was given.

Adore just stared blankly.

“Oh, come on. That’s a classic! It’s stupid as fuck!” Katya pled with everyone around her.

“Sorry, sweety. Just give up and accept defeat,” Trixie rubbed the jokester’s shoulder.

“What’s going on?” Raja rushed to the tub, Adore reaching for her hand to kiss it.

“We just…heard singing…” Courtney explained, “Coming from here. We think she drew us in.”

Adore smiled sheepishly. “I honestly did not know we could do that.”

“An incredible ability to hold,” Sasha said in admiration.

“Okay, I don’t want to sound rude, but can you all get out?” Raja’s eyes glared at the crowd.

They whined in frustration, but when Bianca barked at them, the witches began to file out.

Now only Adore, Raja, Bianca and Courtney remained. The pregnant witch approached the tub before going to leave herself. “Do you want to come mingle with me later?”

There was a hint of something on her face, almost like excitement.

“Yes. I would love that, Courtney,” Adore shared the light witch’s expression.

“Great.” Courtney then took Bianca’s hand, leading her out of Raja’s hut, “Come on you. We have shit to discuss.”

Once they were gone, Raja sat on the ground where Katya had before, her hand still in Adore’s. “So, you can sing, I’m guessing.”

The mermaid blushed. “I always thought I sounded good. But…never that good,” she glanced at the door where all the witches had disappeared. “Do you want to hear a song?”

Raja never shook her head so fast. “As much as I would love that, it’s probably not a good idea.”

Adore’s face dropped, and Raja felt like a dick.

“Look, I promise, I’d love to hear you sing, but it’s not safe,” the witch said quietly, “there's…” she gulped, “We’re not alone in this forest, Adore. Of course, there’s the warlock camp, it’s not far at all, and they’re all lovely. But… we’re not the only witches.”

“You have other sisters?” Adore’s eyes squinted.

“Oh, Adore. They are not my sisters.” Raja’s thumb stroked the back of the mermaid’s hand, “They're…Well, let’s just say they aren’t very nice. We’ve feuded with them in the past many a time. You know, sometimes even going to war. It’s been going on for centuries. Even the witches who came before me had to deal with them.”

“That’s awful,” Adore practically whispered. “I don’t understand. You’re all witches, all the same, so why the feud? I mean, back home, all merpeople… we’re one and the same, and all we share is love.”

God, this woman was too pure… Raja’s heart was melting again. She brought Adore’s damp knuckle to her lips, kissing each one sweetly. “I wish that’s how things were for us."

"Maybe someday,” Adore shrugged.

Raja’s smile turned sad. “I wouldn’t count on it.”

The mermaid lowered her face, “I’m sorry for singing.”

“Oh, Adore. Don’t feel bad.” Raja lifted the mermaid’s chin, “you didn’t know. Fuck, I should have told you before.”

And Adore laughed through her nose, “I probably wouldn’t have understood a word.”

“Oh. Well, true,” Raja giggled.

-_-_-_-

Courtney didn’t explain what she was doing, let alone why she was doing this.

But Adore just let her put whatever this weird stuff was on her face.

At first, it felt weird, and that weirdness made the mermaid uneasy. But the way Courtney delicately smeared crushed beetroot over Adore’s lips made her feel safe.

“This stuff will stain your lips; give them a nice bit of colour.” Courtney finished painting Adores lips before wiping the beetroot mush from her finger on a cloth.

Adore nodded in understanding. “So, this is what land girls use to…as you say, make themselves look pretty?”

“Yes. I mean, in the towns and cities, ladies wear real makeup. But being out here, all we have is the nature around us. So we make do with what we got.” Courtney explained as she began crushing up rose petals. “Honestly, though, I prefer the natural way. Better for the skin, and even more so for our powers.”

“I don’t think you need makeup.” Adore shrugged.

“Aw, thank you, Adore. Keep talking, please.”

“I don’t think you need makeup. I think you’re beautiful, and Bianca is very lucky to - -”

Courtney raised a hand to silence the babbling mermaid. “Don’t worry, it’s just an expression.”

“Oh. Gosh, human language confuses me.”

“This isn’t ‘human language’ you’re speaking. It’s wican.” Courtney explained, taking a brush and dabbing it into the rose petals, crushed up so much they were now dust.

Adore let Courtney dab the pink powder on her cheeks, and her eyes were stuck on the small bump.

“You know what’s in there, right?” Courtney asked, knowing full well Adore was staring.

“A baby?” Adore answered.

“Yep.” Courtney swept a hand across her belly. “I’m only four months in, so they’re not that big yet.”

The mermaid let out a laugh through a breath before confusion took over. “So, it’s possible for…for two women to make a baby on the land.”

“Oh, no. That’s not what Bianca and I did.” Courtney laughed even more. “We have a mating season with the warlocks, kind of like a pact that’s been going on since before I was even born. They’re nice boys over in that camp.”

“They sound nice.”

“Yeah. I think I chose the right man too. He seemed nice. I’d like to think that if the baby was a boy, and he’d be taken over there, he’d have a great father.” Courtney’s eyes drifted off, fantasising about this future to come.

“And, what if it is a boy?” Adore asked.

Courtney looked back at her, “Honestly, I don’t even think I give a shit about gender. Boy, girl, anything… I’m keeping my baby. And I’ll love them no matter who they are.”

A warm smile found its way to Adore’s face, her green eyes trailing back down to Courtney’s bump.

“Do you want to touch it?” Courtney already took the nodding mermaid’s hand.

Placing it on Courtney’s belly, Adore felt it, the tiny heart inside beating.

“I mean, there’s not much going on in there right now, but….” Courtney said.

Adore placed an ear up to the bump. “Wow.”

“What? What is it?” The light witch said with intrigue.

And Adore peered up at Courtney again. “I can hear her heartbeat.”

Courtney’s eyes widened. “Her?”

The mermaid nodded.

“Adore, you are fucking incredible.”

-_-_-_-

“Bianca, what is the meaning of this?!” Raja shouted as her best friend shoved her out of her own home.

“You’ll fucking see! Fuck, patience is a virtue, you know,” Bianca shoved the witch again.

“Alright! I’m fucking moving, God!”

For the last two hours, Bianca had been a pest — insisting Raja skip dinner, weaving silk through the dark witch’s hair, forcing her into a beautiful yet uncomfortable dress. And for every question Raja hurled at her, her friend refused to answer.

And now, here Bianca was, pushing her around, literally.

Almost every witch was outside now, jumping around with excitement and yelling out into the night sky. Even Willam was out — odd for the daylight witch. As soon as she lowered the sun and Blair raised the moon, Willam would be long gone, hitting the hay before anyone could beg for her attention. Yet, there she was, whooping with joy, Alaska carrying her on her back.

“What the fuck is going on?!” Raja exclaimed.

Bianca groaned, taking her friend by the hand and dragging her to their destination instead, “We’re all going over to the warlock camp for a good old time.”

“We’re going to get some dick!” Willam cheered.

“B-But,” Raja couldn’t keep up with this shit anymore, “the mating season is over.”

“Oh, fuck the rules, Raj’,” Katya brushed past, hand in hand with Trixie. “We made them so we can fucking break them whenever we want.” And she carried on with her partner.

“Bianca, what about Adore?” Raja questioned. “I know the men are nice, but…I don’t think it’s safe for her to be out there.”

“And that’s why you’re both going to be staying here,” Bianca glanced over her shoulder with a teasing smile.

Finally reaching the end of the camp, the witches rounded the last hut there.

“B’, I swear to God, whatever you bitches have going on here, I’ll - -”

“Shut up already!” Bianca then gestured to what was in front of them, “Look! We did this for you two.”

In the middle of the green was a small table fit for two, a red candle burning in the middle. A bottle of red wine stood next to the candle, most likely made by one of the witches. And then there were the two plates, the fish Raja and Bianca had caught earlier in the day cooked to perfection.

“You did this,” Raja said, the words sounding more like a question.

“Well, it was Courtney’s idea. She roped me into it.” Bianca put a hand on Raja’s shoulder and the other on her hip. God, she was proud of herself. “Just thought it would be nice for you to have alone time with your mermaid.”

“Okay, you can stop calling her my mermaid. One — she has a name. Two — Adore is her own person. And three — Bianca, Adore and I do have alone time.”

“Yes, but now, you’ll both be even more alone.”

“God, you really are childish,” Raja swept a hand through her hair.

“Oh, wow. You know, that’s a lovely thank you for the fish we cooked and all the work we put into making this shit,” Bianca held a hand out to the display. “Fuck, Nina made that table from scratch!”

Raja looked at said table and back to Bianca, “Bullshit.”

“It’s not bullshit.”

“Come on. That’s probably just a fucking spare table.”

Bianca tsked. “Well, believe whatever you want.”

“What are you two bickering about now?” Courtney’s fed-up voice sounded as she stepped up to the two.

“Nothing amazing,” Bianca rolled her eyes. “Where’s Adore?”

“Oh, she’s just coming now,” the light witch glanced over her shoulder before turning her attention to Raja, “So, do you like it?”

Raja peered at the set table again, “Yes. I love it, Courtney.”

Bianca’s eyes widened. “What the fuck? What did I do to you to make you not nice to me tonight?”

Raja chuckled. “Nothing. Maybe I just like pissing you off,” she playfully shoved Bianca on the shoulder.

“Oh, I know you do. So, what about you, Court’? Ready to go over to the warlock camp?” Bianca swung an arm around her tethered.

“Can’t lie; I’m excited to meet the baby’s father again.” Courtney kissed Bianca softly.

“Who knows? Maybe I could meet a man, give the kid a sibling,” Bianca teased.

“Oh, come on, honey. We can’t be thinking about that so soon.”

“I know. I’m just joking.” Bianca kissed Courtney’s head.

Raja wasn’t paying much attention to the two anymore.

For Adore just rounded the corner of the end hut, and the dark witch couldn’t take her eyes away.

The mermaid’s hair was now separated into two messy braids that lay on her shoulders, a crown of dark red roses dawning her head. Her lips may have been a deep blood colour, but her eyes stood out the most, shades of red and orange surrounding those green orbs, making them pop.

The dress came to her ankles, with burgundy lace and black roses lined along the waistline. The sleeves came to her elbows, hanging down to her knees in drapey lace.

She looked…just like a witch.

And, fuck…she was so so beautiful.

“Hello,” Adore waved nervously, approaching Raja.

Courtney and Bianca were also now watching, the light witch smiling proudly.

“Um…hi,” Raja’s nerves kicked in. “Y-You look beautiful.”

Adore cocked her head, “Even without makeup?”

“What? Of course.” Raja took the mermaid in her arms, “No matter what you look like. Just, right now…you look…fuck, like a goddess.”

The red on Adore’s cheeks intensified. But she didn’t hide it. She took Raja’s face in her hands, pulling her into a heated kiss.

Bianca glanced at Courtney, her eyes telling them they should leave.

“Alright,” Courtney clapped her hands together once, “I guess that’s our cue.”

“Absolutely,” Bianca nodded, taking her tethered partner’s hand and aiming for the forest where the other witches were headed.

When they were alone, Raja pulled out of the kiss, “They made us food.”

Adore only now sniffed the air, her eyes moving towards the table. “Oh, pretty.”

“I know, right?” Raja led Adore towards the table. “And it’s fish. So I think you’ll like it.”

“Ugh, it smells so angelic,” was the only word Adore could think to describe it. She took her seat, ready to dig into the meal. Never had she had fish like this.

“You know, what’s interesting is that being a witch, we usually give a blessing before we eat, but that tradition only comes into play when there’s a Mother Witch present. But, we haven’t had one in so long,” Raja already picked up her knife and fork, carving into the cooked fish. “Fun fact, it’s supposed to be me, but I - -” She paused, watching Adore pick the fish up with her hands, biting into the tender meat. “D-Doesn’t that… Isn’t it hot?”

Adore shook her head, her smile wide.

“You amaze me,” Raja lifted the bottle of wine, pouring the deep red liquid into both glasses.

“You witches amaze me,” Adore said with wide eyes and a full mouth. Swallowing, she continued, “Do you know, earlier, I saw Jinkx. She was outside her house, and she was breathing fire.”

The dark witch raised a brow, sealing the bottle and putting it back. “Oh really?”

“Yes. She was…” Adore paused, returning the fish to the plate as if trying to make sense of her thoughts, “She was sucking on this little stick, and just…smoke…smoke came from her mouth. Is she a dragon?”

That was enough to make Raja chuckle. Ah yes, Jinkx with her cigarettes. She was the only witch on sight who could grow tobacco plants, and the others adored her for it.

“Oh, I see what you’re talking about. Yeah, it’s pretty cool.” The dark witch took a sip of the wine, and Adore did the same, “I love how amazed our world is to you, yet so…normal to me.”

The mermaid grimaced, coughing some as she put the glass down. “W-What is that?!”

“It’s wine.” Raja suppressed a giggle. “It comes from the grapes.”

“Grapes?”

“Yes.”

And Adore took another sip, swallowing with ease now. “I-I think I’ll adjust to it.”

“Don’t drink too much. I’m guessing this is the first alcohol you’ve ever tried.”

“Oh? And what’s alcohol?”

“Alcohol is amazing. But too much, you’ll start to feel… light-headed, I guess? Maybe lose control of your own actions.” Raja explained. “Between you and me, one time Bianca drank too much wine and thought her shadow was a demon latched onto her soul. It was a wild night.”

“…Alright, but that just makes me want to drink as much as I can,” Adore admitted, her eyes wide with intrigue.

“Well, good thing we have just this one bottle,” Raja held it up as if the mermaid couldn’t already see it.

“I love this place,” Adore let her eyes wander around the camp. “It feels like… every day I’m learning something new that just…blows my mind.”

And the dark witch felt all sorts of excitement brewing from within. If only the mermaid knew she could have the chance to stay here for the rest of her life. As much as Raja hated Raven, she hoped the bitch would come through with her promise. The thought of Adore not being here…it was enough to make her heart ache.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Adore.” Raja reached a hand across the table, taking Adore’s.

They both seemed to forget about the fish now, preferring to sit and talk for a while.

“You know that day in the cave?” Raja asked.

“The day we met?” Adore smiled fondly.

“Of course. Do you go there often? I mean…what are the chances of us meeting that day?” The dark witch stroked her thumb over the back of Adore’s hand.

The mermaid looked at Raja’s hand, her stomach stirring, just feeling that spark between them both. “I usually go there, just for alone time. My realm isn’t too far away, and sometimes I need a break from everyone else. I have a lot of suitors looking for my hand in marriage, you know?” She teased with a raised brow and coy smile. “I have to meet with at least five a day. It’s exhausting.”

“Five?” Raja exclaimed. “God, I think the King does that with his daughter,” and with that thought, “Wait, are you a princess? Like…soon to be the queen of the ocean?”

And the mermaid laughed, pressing her hand to her sealed lips as she took another bit of wine. “Do I look like royalty to you?”

“Uh…yes.”

“I love you. But no. I am not a princess. Although my father is a noble merman. He works as one of the King’s many advisors.” Adore explained. “So, I’m kind of a big deal.”

“You and me both,” Raja said.

“So yes, I just like to be alone for a while. Just to…sing and swim around and make new friends with the clown fish,” Adore reminisced. “And that day, I just…saw you looking down at me. And I had never ever met a human before. I heard tales that they were dangerous creatures. But, just looking at you…I thought…how is that even possible?”

Raja lowered her now red-stained cheeks. “Well, I am kind of dangerous, being a dark witch and all. But, I only ever hurt those who hurt my family or me.”

“As I would do the same for mine."

At the mention of Adore’s family, Raja gulped, lifting her wine and taking another sip. Best to change the subject. "I’m sorry I made you cry that day.”

“It's…ugh, it’s fine. I’m sorry. Sometimes I can’t control my emotions.” Adore looked away as if pained by the memory. “I just…you know, meeting with all those other merpeople coming to ask for my hand in marriage, when I met you, and when I kissed you…I just felt it. We were supposed to be together.” She looked back at Raja.

The dark witch let out a wavered breath. “Oh, Adore. We’re tethered, that’s why. It’s strange. I thought that was just a witch thing. I mean, I’ve never heard of any other species tethering.” Then she shrugged, “Then again, I don’t meet a lot of other people.” She laughed pitifully, gesturing to the world around her.

“Funny thing is, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of tethering before.” Adore pointed out.

“Well, maybe…maybe you have a bit of witch in you. Probably explains why you can grow legs when you’re dry.” Raja suggested.

“Nah, mermaids can do that anyway.”

“Oh. I see." Damn.

"Gosh, I’m stuffed.” Adore declared, having barely touched her food.

Raja was just the same, “Oh, me too. Come on.”

Sitting before the lit fire in the centre of camp, the two sipped their wine, talking some more.

“I meant it, by the way, when I said you’re beautiful every day,” Raja stated, holding Adore close.

“I know.” Adore smirked, “I can’t lie, though. I think I look beautiful times ten now,” the mermaid stared into the flames. “I’m pretty like Courtney now.”

“Well, between you and me, you’re prettier than Courtney.” Raja kissed Adore on the cheek.

“Oh, come on.” The mermaid moved out of Raja’s grasp, sitting in front of her now. “Courtney’s one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen. Besides you, of course. At first, I thought she was another mermaid. One I’d never met before.”

“Well, I can assure you Courtney is a full-blood witch. I remember the day she was born. Bianca and I were only five.” And the dark witch looked at the flames next, remembering that day. “It was so cute. Bianca just…reached out her tiny hand and held Courtney’s.” God, her heart was melting, “Bianca’s mother, Valentina, she just…she knew. She knew by Bianca’s face and how Courtney woke up that they would be together.”

Adore sighed, almost dreamily. “I love hearing you talk about this stuff. Even when I couldn’t understand you.”

Raja giggled. “I just…I don’t know. If it weren’t for those two, I wouldn’t believe in tethering.” She shrugged, “I’m more inclined to believe not all tethered relationships work out. Fun fact; Bianca and I were a thing for a long time.”

Adore nodded. “A…thing?”

“Yeah, like… we’d see each other, you know? We’d kiss, hold each other…fuck sometimes. I don’t know, I just thought maybe she was the one I wanted to be with,” Raja tried her hardest to explain. “But, we both realised that we were better as friends.”

The whole time Adore was suppressing her laughs. But eventually, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. “You and Bianca?!”

“Yes. Why?” Raja squinted her eyes.

“It’s just…I don’t see it, but I can see it at the same time. Yesterday, Katya was saying you two were like…like…God, what was that phrase?” The mermaid tried her hardest to remember.

“Chalk and cheese?”

“Yes! Chalk and cheese! I may not know what that means exactly, but I have an idea.”

“Well, judging by what you’re saying, you’re probably right. Bianca’s my bestfriend. And Courtney is lucky to have her as her tethered one.” Raja stated. “They just…reassure me that there’s someone for everyone.”

Adore’s smile turned warm. “And what about us? Does our connection make you believe in tethering?” The mermaid was leaning close to the witch now.

And Raja reciprocated. “Oh, absolutely.”

Their foreheads connect, Adore lifting a hand and stroking Raja’s cheek.

The witch couldn’t tell if it was the warmth from the fire or the heat pooling in her stomach, but her body was warm now. All sorts of feelings stirred within, and she dared herself to say, “Adore…Do you ever think we could - -”

Marry. That’s what Raja wanted to say. Just to get it out of the way. The hardest part of it all.

But she stopped when Adore flinched, hearing the howling from the forest. “What was that?”

“Oh, God,” Raja groaned. Fuck these bitches for ruining the moment, “Don’t worry. It’s just the warlocks. I guess they decided to move the party over here.”

And true to her statement, the men began to pour out of the trees, invading the witch camp. A specific group of them howled at the moon, witches running behind them, thirsty for skin on skin. Another group worked their magic, sending blasts off into the sky, loud explosions painting the night with bright colours.

At first, Adore flinched again, but…this was pretty. Nothing like she had ever seen before. “What is it?”

“I can’t remember the exact name. I think the boys call them fireworks,” Raja also stared up at the exploding colours. “It’s incredible, right?”

The mermaid didn’t have the words to describe it. The loud banging was harsh on her ears, but the…fuck, just taking it all in, it was breathtaking.

“Guess who’s getting dicked down tonight?!” Willam hollered, riding the back of one of the men, rushing to the witch’s hut.

“Me! I am! Me!” Laila was just excited, leading her man for the night away.

They weren’t the only ones. While some witches and warlocks danced around the flames of the fire as they played music with what instruments they had, the others rushed to their homes, ready for a long night of fucking.

“Everyone’s so excited,” the mermaid observed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Yep. Most of these witches rarely get the chance to meet up with a man,” Raja explained, “mating season is once a year.”

“But tonight,” Adore turned her attention back to her love, “fuck the rules?”

“Fuck the rules,” Raja clarified, drawing Adore into another kiss.

Maybe it was the mixed feelings of love and lust in the air, but Raja was thriving on it all. This was how she wanted it to be forever — just sitting here with Adore, kissing passionately in front of this fire, not a care in the world.

The mermaid’s hand crept along Raja’s leg, making the butterflies in the witch’s belly go wild.

“BOO!”

Adore yelped as soon as her lips parted from Raja’s.

A warlock ran off, cackling wickedly as he rushed for Tatianna, holding her arms open, hungry for a kiss.

“Hey, fuck off!” Raja yelled after the stupid warlock. But when the mermaid’s fear turned to amusement, giggles leaving her lips, the witch relaxed.

“Come on!” Adore stood, taking Raja by the wrist and leading her away.

They were running now, Raja having no idea where she was being led to. As long as it was with Adore, she didn’t care.

Reaching Raja’s hut, they both stood in the doorway, Adore giggling as she leaned back against the bookcase. Raja also laughed, standing opposite Adore.

They just stood there for a moment, eyes shifting between the shenanigans going on outside and then back to each other, just laughing. Why was this amusing?

Maybe just the sheer joy of being here together.

When Adore’s chest stopped heaving, she stepped forward, kissing Raja again.

So many times they had done this already…So many times they kissed.

Yet Raja knew where this was going.

Fiery flames engulfed her insides, coursing through her body as she allowed Adore to pull her closer. The witch’s hands found their way around the mermaid’s waist, her fingers trailing the line of roses.

Adore pulled away briefly, “Don’t let go of me,” she whispered in Raja’s ear.

“I won’t, Raja smiled, tilting her head and allowing the mermaid to nip at her neck. "Why would I do such a thing?”

No response from the mermaid as she kissed Raja’s mouth again, her body curving against the witch’s. She lured her back, Raja didn’t know where, but she trusted Adore. She trusted Adore with her life.

They found the bed, and Adore pulled away, guiding Raja down. She then climbed the length of the witch, like she had done this many times.

But was this actually happening? Did Adore even know how this worked?

“Adore, do you….” But Raja couldn’t bring herself to finish the statement as the mermaid sucked on her neck some more.

“Hm?” Adore sounded against the witch’s skin.

Her lips were so hot, sucking Raja’s soon-to-be bruised skin. The witch gasped, her hand finding the back of Adore’s head. “Nevermind.”

Adore had to know what she was doing now that her fingers were undoing the black ribbon that bound Raja’s corset. Not like they hadn’t seen each other naked before, but…

This was different. They both knew that.

And they wanted it.

When the lace was gone, the corset was pulled away from her. Raja sat up, quickly pulling her dress up over her head. Adore giggled, Raja unable to tell if it was because of nerves or excitement.

As soon as the dress was tossed to the side, Adore took it all in – the sight of her tethered partner, like it was the first time seeing her like this again. “I can't…I can’t believe this is real,” Adore’s delicate fingers trailed from Raja’s chest all the way down to her thigh.

“My body?” Raja chuckled, skin tingling as Adore touched her.

The mermaid smiled coyly before correcting her lover, “The fact that we’re together.” She traced the side of Raja’s face.

And the witch sat up again, a hand stroking Adore’s side, the other caressing her cheek.

Adore reached around, untying the threads of her own corset, dropping it from the side of the bed while Raja reached for the bottom of the expertly made dress, lifting it up and over the mermaid’s head.

As soon as it was removed, Adore didn’t allow Raja to look at her just yet, capturing her lover’s lips with her own again.

The hot sensation of skin on skin, the mixture of their energies tingling between them…This was to be the perfect moment.

Raja grabbed Adore’s hips, momentarily stroking her skin as she lowered the mermaid onto the bed. Pulling out of the kiss, Raja let her thumb trail Adore’s cheek and then her lips. She stared into Adore’s green eyes, the mermaid staring right back.

Fuck, how it made her stomach twist…but in a longing way…almost as if insecurity was taking over but only connected them further.

They hadn’t even barely started yet. But it was already so intense.

“You’re driving me insane.” Raja kissed her sweetly before moving these kisses down towards Adore’s breasts.

Adore whimpered sighs, music to Raja’s ears. The rise and fall of the mermaid’s chest was a heavenly sight, riling Raja up even more. She teased Adore’s right nipple with her tongue, the right with her thumb.

Adore arched her back, gasping when Raja’s mouth enveloped her nipple, her thumb flicking the other back and forth. The mermaid squeezed her knees together, mewling with pleasure.

Raja could have done just this all night, anything to hear Adore gasp the way she did, anything to prove her love for Adore. But when she teased her breasts enough, Raja kissed Adore’s nipple again, her lashes fluttering as she looked up at the mermaid. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too, Raja,” Adore smiled slightly, letting her fingers get tangled in Raja’s hair. God, she wanted more. She had never experienced something so…special…this need to be pressed against each other…the need for Raja to kiss her places she had never been kissed before.

Raja’s hands were wandering again, stroking Adore’s thighs, along her stomach and back up to her breasts. She savoured this all – the heat of Adore’s skin against hers. She knew the mermaid was ready for her…to take this further.

“Do you want to keep going?” Raja asked, just to be sure.

“Yes,” Adore said breathlessly. “God, yes.”

Fire coursed through Raja as her kisses lowered. “Is this your first time?” She whispered against Adore’s stomach.

The mermaid closed her eyes. She may not have known fully what that meant, but she knew she wanted this – Raja’s lips all over her body. “Yes.”

“Okay. I’ll go easy on you,” Raja kissed Adore’s belly button before trailing her lips further down her body.

Even though the mermaid didn’t necessarily want easy, her stomach quivered as she allowed Raja to part her legs. Something inside her fluttered as the cool air hit her between her legs. This was so unfamiliar but so so delicious.

Raja kissed Adore’s knee, then the inside of her thigh. She glanced up once more at the riled-up mermaid before her tongue flicked over Adore’s clit.

Adore moaned, eyes rolling to the back of her head as she arched her back again. She was crumbling just under Raja’s mouth. This was…something.

Raja’s tongue circled Adore’s clit while her eyes flickered upwards, enjoying the reactions from the mermaid.

“Fuck…fuck,” Adore writhed, tightening her hold on Raja’s hair. Her legs spread wider, her left knee brought up into a bend which Raja caressed.

“You’re beautiful, Adore. You’re so beautiful.” Raja sucked Adore’s clit.

“It’s s-so hot,” Adore murmured, her torso arching as hew mewls of pleasure turned pathetic.

Raja knew Adore was close, the witch’s tongue lapping up her lover’s wetness whilst her finger rubbed against the sensitive clit. “Come for me, baby.”

Her chest still heaving, nails gripping the blanket, Adore glanced down at Raja. Her eyes were wild yet slightly confused.

Placing a sweet kiss against Adore’s core, Raja murmured, “That hot feeling inside,” she rubbed harder at the mermaid’s clit, “Just let it go, Adore.”

“I…I want to….” Adore quivered. “Oh God, I need to.”

“Come for me, Adore. Please,” Raja whispered, her hot breath teasing.

And Adore just couldn’t take it anymore. A lightning-hot course of electricity shocked her whole being, her head rolling back against the pillows as she cried out in pure ecstasy.

Raja sat up again, licking the fluids from her fingers as she watched Adore whine.

“F-Fuck,” Adore’s skin glistened with sweat, her eyes half hooded.

The definition of perfection.

Raja wiped her mouth, sweeping her black hair out of her face as she leaned down to kiss her lover.

Adore wrapped her trembling arms around Raja, her kisses hungry.

They weren’t done. Now, it was Adore’s turn.

She kept her lips over Raja’s as she flipped the witch onto her back, still panting.

“Did you…” Raja gasped when Adore kissed her neck again, “Did you like that?”

“Of course,” Adore smiled against Raja’s skin, letting her hand slowly creep its way down Raja’s chest, past her flat belly, all the way down to between the witch’s legs.

Raja parted her knees, only now realising there was more to come. She was never the one on the receiving end. But she couldn’t resist Adore’s touch. She moaned as soon as the mermaid delicately brushed the tip of her finger over her clit. Just the simplest touch…it was torture.

“Adore, fuck…” Raja’s fingers tangled in Adore’s hair.

Adore brushed Raja’s clit again, teasing her with no mercy. “You want more?” She brushed her lips against Raja’s ear.

“Please.” Raja squeezed her eyes shut, already soaking wet.

“How much?” Adore giggled mischievously, nipping Raja’s earlobe with her teeth as she pressed harder on Raja’s clit and rubbed it in hypnotic circles. “How much do you want this?”

“God, so much. Please, just…fuck.”

“Are you begging?”

“Y-Yes.”

“I don’t think you are, Raja.”

Fuck, this mermaid was driving her insane. Who knew someone so…mystified by the world…so amazed by all the things she didn’t know…so adorable…Who knew she could be so cruel in the sheets.

“Please, Adore,” Raja whined, wrapping her legs around Adore’s waist. “I want you so bad. I need you.”

This must have satisfied Adore, “Good girl,” she murmured as she slid two fingers inside Raja.

The witch gasped, tightening her hold on Adore, her vision blurring.

Adore slid her fingers in and out, sucking Raja’s neck, leaving behind a pretty red mark. The smell of Raja’s hair and skin only increased her hunger for this intensity. The ecstasy was building within her again, bringing her to rock her bare hips against the bed. The blanket rubbed against her clit, the feeling not as sensational as Raja’s tongue. But this was heaven.

“I love you,” Raja’s hips began to ride against Adore’s fingers, pressing a kiss against Adore’s blush-covered cheek.

Adore pumped harder, biting down on Raja’s neck. “You’re so…fucking…beautiful…”

Raja couldn’t take it anymore. She sat up, Adore’s fingers still deep inside of her. She continued to rock her hips against the mermaid’s hand, wrapping her sun-kissed arm around Adore’s waist.

Again, they stared into each other’s eyes, Adore’s gaze intense, whilst Raja’s was half closed. Their lips brushed against each other, almost like threatening each other with a kiss.

Adore’s free hand trailed along Raja’s arm, up her shoulder and wrapped around Raja’s throat.

A pitiful crying sound left Raja’s parted lips as Adore squeezed the sides of her neck and continued to bury her fingers inside of her. Her body was now covered in a film of sweat, and her skin was on fire.

“Adore…Adore, fuck!” Raja gasped, her whole being completely surrendered to her lover.

“I love you. I swear to God, Raja. I fucking love you.” Adore’s forehead met Raja’s. She wanted this to last all night but knew it was impossible. For soon, she would start to dehydrate again and need to rejuvenate in the tub. But for now, she would prove how much she loved Raja.

Raja’s whines were now loud moans, matching those of which sounded from outside her home. She was getting close, especially now that Adore had added another finger and was clawing at the witch’s back.

“Come for me, Raja,” Adore whispered, just as Raja had. She ground her hips against the bed sheets more, close to releasing herself. “Come with me.”

And Raja threw her head back, her body trembling as she released against Adore’s hand.

The mermaid did just the same, her free arm now wrapped around Raja’s body as she held them both tightly together. They were both sweaty messes of pure euphoria.

Raja panted, kissing Adore’s cheek before flopping down onto the bed. Now they were done.

Adore pressed a kiss to Raja’s thigh, her stomach, her chest, and her lips before she relaxed her body against the witch’s.

Raja was still catching her breath, playing with Adore’s blonde hair as her body relaxed.

“You made white blood,” Adore closed her eyes, fingers dancing delicately along Raja’s abdomen.

Raja chuckled. “That’s the come, Adore. That’s why we tell the person we love to come for them.”

“Oh. Humans are so bizarre sometimes.” Adore smiled.

“Yeah. We can be,” Raja looked down at Adore, trailing a finger along the mermaid’s brow. “I want to know though…what you just did to me…how did you know how to do that?”

Adore shrugged slightly. “I don’t know. I just wanted to touch you there. I just…knew I wanted to.”

“I see.” Raja nodded before a thought crossed her mind. “So, like, how do merpeople make love?” Her nails moved to Adore’s back, relishing in this moonlight that seeped in from the roof.

Adore giggled, “Maybe I’ll tell you another day. Let’s just enjoy this.” She kissed Raja’s breast. “While it lasts.”

And Raja’s smile wavered. “I wish I could just hold you all night.”

“You can always get in the tub with me,” Adore hinted. “Not like we haven’t done that before.”

“True.”

“But I’ll let you sleep in your own bed tonight. Maybe some other time,” Adore’s fingers stroked delicately along Raja’s belly now, the witch shivering. “God, they all sound in pain.”

Raja noted the sounds of pure ecstasy coming from outside, witches and warlocks fucking like it was their first time. “Yeah, it’s kind of noisy, I guess. But they’re having fun.”

“I had fun,” Adore giggled, lashes tickling Raja’s chest. “I want to do that again.”

“Oh my God, you’re hilarious.” Raja chuckled, her fingers now in Adore’s snow-like hair. “There’s nothing stopping us.”

“We can’t,” Adore groaned, however, “I’m starting to dry out again.”

“Oh.” Raja panicked internally, sitting up. “You need to go in the tub?”

“Yes. But I can do it myself,” Adore also sat up, getting off the bed.

Making her way to the still-filled tub, Raja still lay there in her bed, taking in the sight of the mermaid’s naked form. Just looking at her skin, she could still feel the softness of it under her fingertips. And it was pure heaven.

The mermaid was pure heaven.

Before getting in the tub, Adore looked over her shoulder, “Would you come sit with me? Until I sleep, at least?”

Of course, Raja couldn’t say no. She stood by the tub, watching Adore’s legs seal together, forming her long shimmering tail. When the transformation was finished, she sat down.

And that’s when Adore asked, “Which part of me do you like the best?”

“What? Like, body part?” Raja asked.

“No. I mean, do you like me human or mermaid?” Adore raised a brow.

And Raja gulped. “I…I like you no matter what.” It wasn’t a lie. The witch adored every bit of her tethered one. But, deep down, she wanted the human version because that meant they had a future. And, fuck, she wanted that so bad.

Adore seemed satisfied with the answer, reaching her hand out of the tub.

The witch took it in her own, leaning her head against the cold tub.

“Goodnight, Raja,” Adore said breathlessly. “I love you.”

Raja’s heart pounded, cheeks staining red. “I love you too.”

And with that, the mermaid let go of Raja’s hand, letting her body slide down, the water now submerging her.

And that was it. All Raja could do now was get up and drag her tired ass to bed.

But she simply couldn’t move.

Just…sitting there beside the tub, knowing Adore was still in there…she couldn’t bring herself not to be away from the mermaid.

Not after what they had just shared. Part of her mind couldn’t grasp any of it, how this was even possible. Of all the other witches she had fucked in her lifetime, nothing compared to what happened with Adore. Her skin could have lit itself on fire when Adore pressed her body to hers. That tethered feeling, the electric light flowing through them both, it reached its peak the moment Adore kissed Raja’s skin.

Fuck, it was almost as if she was high, the buzz beneath her skin making her see bursts of colour behind her closed eyes.

Yes…A feeling the witch had never experienced in her life.

A throaty moan from somewhere outside brought Raja back to reality. And when she was aware of her surroundings again, she felt it.

Like she was being watched.

Looking around, the dark witch knew her instinct was correct. Looking towards the door, there was Raven — just standing there, her arms folded, shadows covering most of her.

“Can I help you?” Raja could tell; there was something about the way Raven looked at her, almost like…she was disappointed. But the dark witch paid no heed, finally standing up, uncaring of her nakedness.

“I thought I heard some sort of commotion.” Raven cocked her head.

Raja cringed, “Yeah, sorry we kept you awake.” She finally reached for her night dress.

“It’s fine. It wasn’t just you. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there are a lot of riled-up witches out there tonight.” Raven glanced outside, the sounds of ecstasy still echoing in the night air, “And I was also awake anyway. Just thought I’d let you know I’ve finished preparations for the spell.”

Raja’s breath caught in her throat, eyes widening. “Oh. R-Really?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. Good.” Raja nodded, now fidgeting with her hands.

Raven cocked her head to the other side now. “What’s wrong, Mother Witch?”

“Raven."

"Answer the question.”

Raja scoffed, looking away. “Nothing is wrong.”

“Oh, really?” Raven’s hands were now on her hips. “How odd. I could have sworn I heard a bit of hesitation just now.”

And Raja shook her head. “No. No, I didn’t hesitate.”

“Hmm. Having second thoughts?"

”No.“

To this, all Raven did was blink. And, fuck, Raja could have punched her in the throat.

"I see,” Raven nodded. She turned and slowly inched her way back to the door. Before leaving, however, she looked over her shoulder. “Well? Aren’t you coming?”

Raja’s brows knit together. “Where?”

“My place. I need a hand carrying the equipment.” Raven answered, her voice suggesting it should have been a given.

Raja then fidgeted with the knot tied around her waist. “We're… We’re doing it now?”

And Raven was silent for a moment. “Are you sure you’re not having doubts, my love?”

“Raven.” Raja’s voice raised. “No. I am not having doubts.”

“Huh. Alright.” Raven nodded a head to the cold night outside the hut. “Well, let’s go.”

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