#college. and um. well. that would mean not being able to return for my senior year of college.

[yrbutchgf]

um so . so no actually my adhd might be fucking my whole life again

[father-time-and-baby-new-year]

alphabet boy

SYNOPSIS: You should feel extremely lucky that the handsome and intelligent Armin Arlert is your tutor...even when he's a little mean to you. Because that's your fault, isn't it? He wouldn't have to be mean if you weren't so damn stupid.

PAIRING: Armin x FEM!Reader

DEDICATED TO: armin fuckers. non armin fuckers, i hope i can convert you.

TW: dubcon touching, manipulative behavior, gaslighting, academia shaming,

WC: 1.8k

“Maybe you’re not cut out for this class.”

He said it so casually, a comment spoken between the flip of textbook pages. You couldn’t shake off the undeniable hurt.

“I-Uhm, uh, yeah I have to study a lot...but I like this class. It was a pain to get off the waitlist.” You keep your voice optimistic and light, hoping to mask the offense taken.

You don’t know why Armin would say that, but maybe he was just being logical...he’s seen you struggle, of course, he’d think the class was too hard for you.

The blond sighs, closing his novel that he brought with him while he waited for you to finish your practice problems.

“You can barely keep up with the weekly homework assignments. You didn’t even hand in your assignment last week, right? Better drop out now before the add and drop deadline.” His voice is soft and cold at the same time. It’s unnerving.

You tuck your hair behind your ears, eyes set low, too ashamed to meet your tutor’s. Armin had been your tutor for the past few weeks now, and you thought it was going pretty well. He was so so smart that you couldn’t help but be a little starstruck. He was handsome too, short-cropped blond hair, wide blue eyes, with a wardrobe that was composed of slacks and sweaters.

Usually, he was always overly polite and charming. You could make countless mistakes and his patience was endless. He had some off-days where he was a little withdrawn and quiet. You never held it against him though, knowing he had no obligation to make idle chatter. But sometimes, you could feel his chilly gaze watching you even though he had a book propped open.

“I emailed the professor, he was really chill about it. Last week was really rough for me, you know? I wasn’t feeling well and...”

“You know excuses don’t fly in the real world right? You’re in college now. Professor Ackerman was just being courteous. He probably thinks you’re lazy.” Even though you try not to look at him, you can feel Armin’s azure blues burn holes into you. There was this quiet intensity about him that made you worry about when the restraints would come off.

Armin can’t help but let condescension drip over his words. Any self-respecting person would defend themselves, but not you. Not when you’re already broken by your own insecurities that make it that much easier for him to trample on.

He can already see pearly-sheened tears leaking from the corner of your hopeless eyes. How cute. You part your pretty little mouth to say something, but no words come out. You close your mouth soon enough, looking every bit like a dumb little airhead.

So he continues: “You know your classmates learned all the first few chapters from high school right? You’re the only one starting fresh.” He moves closer, elbows inching closer to infiltrate your little personal-space bubble, knees knocking into yours under the desk.

More tears form under your lower lashes, and Armin mentally counts the crystal droplets. You’re recoiling into yourself like a shrinking violet which only encourages Armin to go just a little farther.

“You don’t even have your major picked out yet. This is a core class for your classmates, you know. You’re wasting your-no, everyone’s time.”

Not wanting to cry in front of your tutor, you rub your eyes with the sleeve of your jacket, fully aware of how utterly pathetic you look right now.

In a small voice, you manage to utter, “I have a right...to be in this class. Even though I’m slow now, I think with some decent amount of studying...I’ll catch up. Even if I’m not-” you take a deep breath, “as quick as my classmates, I still really enjoy what I learn. And..and...I think at the end of the day, that’s what really matters!”

Armin scoffs, “Do you really like the class or are you staying for Ackerman? God knows how many fangirls he’s had to put up with.”

Even as he spoke those words, Armin knew it wasn’t entirely true. You admired the man zealously and had read all of his published papers. Honestly, your admiration had always annoyed him.

You wince at the insinuation but you could feel the anger simmering in your gut, “You have no right to imply that! Wh-why-” Your voice breaks, “are you being so mean?”

Armin thinks you’re so cute, the way you jut out your bottom lip. So cute and pathetic. The corners of his lips quirk upwards. It’s almost endearing how you say “mean” like it’s the worst thing a person can be.

“Am I being mean or am I being realistic?” The blond coos, “I’m your tutor, right? I know the best for you.”

He takes your silence as an invitation to goad you harder: “You’re only upset because I’m telling you what you don’t want to hear.”

You don’t notice the proximity until Armin lays his hand over yours, squeezing the soft flesh of your palms. His voice is gentle as he reassures you: “Hey, hey, don’t cry. It’s okay.”

He made you cry, but you don’t have it in you to pull away from the only semblance of comfort given to you. His chair scrapes the floor as he sets it right beside yours, wrapping an arm around you, encouraging you to lean your head against his shoulder.

It’s a little sad but this is probably the most physical contact you���ve gotten in a while. You’re an utter mess, and on top of all that, touch-starved.

You’re still sniffling like a crybaby, trying to sort your own emotions out. You take a few deep breaths and force yourself to face the facts:

You’re behind.

The class is too much work for you.

Armin’s right, you’re upset because he’s telling you what you don’t want to hear.

“D-do you really think I should drop the class?” Your voice is so defeated, a pinch louder than a whisper.

His long fingers play with the ends of your hair, “I know this class is really important to you and we both want you to do well...so why don’t we increase our tutoring sessions? Maybe we should meet three times a week.”

He smiles at you, and it looks so genuine. You’re immensely grateful, you are, but confusion washes over you, “Wow, Uh, that’ll be great actually but um, uni tutoring services is once a week...so-”

Armin dismisses your concerns with a gentle wave of his hands, “Don’t worry, It’ll be off the books. Think of this as private tutoring. Of course, we’ll have to start meeting in my room from now on.”

While he doesn’t elaborate on why you have to meet in his dorm, you assume Armin has a good reason and it probably involves university-sanctioned student-tutor guidelines.

You’re stammering out thank-you’s, still trying to rub the tears out of your eyes until you feel a soft handkerchief wiping them away.

“It’s okay, don’t worry.” He reassures, “Don’t use your sleeve. It’s too rough for your pretty face.”

You blush under his words, wide eyes locked into his oceanic blues, “I d-don’t know if I’ll be able to compensate you f-for the private tutoring.”

His eyebrows crease as he gives you a smile full of pearly teeth, “You don’t have to worry about that for now.” His hands graze over your knuckles, “We’ll figure something out.”

“Thank you Armin.” You say it so sincerely, trying to muster the biggest smile you can after the blond essentially trampled over your self-esteem to only nurse it back with sweet promises.

“Well, we better finish today’s work then.” He responds calmly, not bothering to detangle himself from you. You can feel his body heat radiating onto you, and how his hand moved to casually rest on your thigh. But that’s normal right? If you think about it, Armin was not exactly adverse to touch. During your past tutoring sessions, his hand would always be on the small of your back or shoulders.

“Hey, you’re not getting distracted again, are you?” His voice is playful like he isn’t sliding his hand up and down the span of skin between your skirt and tights. When you don't respond, he pinches your inner thigh, eliciting a startled gasp from you.

"Focus." It's a demand so it must be followed.

Embarrassed, you nod your head and return your focus to the problem sets even though your hands are shaky as you grip the ballpoint pen.

You don’t notice how the blond’s eyes gleam under the fluorescent lighting at your easy compliance. He’s always liked obedient girls.

Your thighs are growing warmer, and it doesn’t help to have Armin peering over you. Still, you try your best to lull yourself to focus until a ringtone breaks your concentration.

Armin breaks away from you to find his phone and you find your body subconsciously missing the warmth. He lightly curses under his breath once he sees the contact name, but answers nonetheless.

“Yeah...sorry babe. I forgot. I’ll be right over.” He sounds apologetic but he looks downright bored.

And like that, the call is over. He looks over at you with an apology falling from his lips, “Sorry about that. I forgot I had something to do today. We’ll end early.”

Your throat is dry as you ask, “Was that your girlfriend?” You regretted your words the moment they escaped. That was none of your business. It doesn’t matter if he was holding you earlier. He was doing so because you were bawling like a baby. But why did he touch your thighs?

That doesn’t have to mean anything, you rationalize. Besides, Armin would never make a move on you. He was a handsome senior with a perfect GPA and a powerful position in the student government. Stupid freshman girls like you are not worth the time he so generously gives out.

The blond smirks, seeming to notice your internal struggle, “Something like that. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure she won’t distract me from our future sessions.”

That was a puzzling comment. His girlfriend supposedly distracting from your study time wasn’t even a concern you held.

“No, no, that’s ok.” You quickly assure, “You’ve already helped me out so much.”

The blond pats the top of your head like you were a puppy, “I’d do anything for my cute little student.”

The way your face heats up with a dark blush should be criminal. All he did was pat your head, and you’re looking at him starry-eyed like he didn’t grope your thighs under the table. Honestly, all your cute little blubbering had gone straight to his cock. Annie would have to handle his big problem.

These private sessions are going to be fun.

part I ---- complete

[smallrainclouds]

It's not easy having yourself a good time

we're on a double-date with other people... why are we kissing? you're not my date

Credit for prompt to

Hypnos x reader (modern!College!au)

Word count: 2.7

Warning: some dating violence on OC's side. Wrist grabbing, slurs and controlling behavior.

Summary: this was the worst date of your life. Thankfully it's also Hypnos' worst date ever.

A/N: here have this fic. I had yandere! Hypnos I was working on but it's giving me issues (it was supposed be under 1k but it keeps growing).

Also, I am open to requests but will rejected any I don't feel comfortable doing.

No beta.

Thank and I hope you enjoy.

💤☁️💤

You regret everything.

You stared at the plate of food you didn't order, some sad little salad that somehow smelled greasy.

Why did you let yourself get talked into a group date? You know why, you thought your friend was going to try to set up with your lab partner, Hypnos.

You looked at the bubbles in your sparkling water, another thing you didn't order and wondered if the person you were with would ever stop talking.

You glanced up at the group at the table. Across from you with his own date next to him, was Hypnos who was frowning at your date.

At least you had one sane classmate with you. Hypnos had been your lab partner since the first day in senior year and honestly you had thought at first your friend was setting you up with Hypnos. If you had known it was with someone else, you would have bail.

Charlie was a nice person you told yourself and your friends thought they would be great for you. Charlie was just… maybe they didn't know you don't order people's food for them.

"Look what I'm saying, Hypnos, is that maybe that YouTuber guy shouldn't be called out as much. Not his fault people can't take jokes anymore." Your date, Charlie, said loudly across the table to Hypnos who just raised a brow.

You rolled your eyes, You weren't going to let your friends pick a date for you ever again.

"Alright buddy. Whatever you say." Hypnos shrugged.

Hypnos' date and fellow classmate leaned across Hypnos, her breasts pressed against his arm. You looked away, poking at your food. You certainly were not jealous, you told yourself.

"Come on, guys. Let's talk about something else." she whined. The other two couples that came along echoed their agreement.

Hypnos grimaced and sat up taller, making the girl sit up as well. You felt kinda bad for both you and Hypnos. Clearly neither one of you guys were getting on with your dates.

You looked toward your friend, hoping she would notice how poorly everything was going. You rolled your eyes when she was clearly lost in her own world, feeding her partner french fries.

Too bad your date wasn't with Hypnos. You thought he was actually cute back when You first saw him, if not a little odd looking with white curls and heavy lidded eyes. Now, you couldn't imagine a more handsome person.

You found your eyes kept going back to him throughout dinner. Especially when he pushed his hoodie sleeves up, showing off his forearms.

The table moved on to some marvel movie or something but you were drifting in and out. You kept checking your watch in hopes that you could end the night soon without being rude.

You could feel someone was watching you and you looked up to Hypnos' golden eyes looking at you. He glanced at the group, back at you and rolled his eyes. You smiled in agreement but quickly covered it up with your hand.

Hypnos pointed toward your plate with the uneaten food, eyebrows rised in a questioning way.

You tilted your head toward your date who was loudly having another argument over some tv show with one of the guys there.

Hypnos looked at your date for a second before he sneaked you his untouched plate of pancakes.

You mouthed, 'Are you sure?' and he nodded, pointing at a plate of mostly eaten omelet.

You mouthed a quick thank you and dug in. You were half though the plate of pancakes when your date noticed.

"Wait, where did you get the pancakes?" Charlie asked, "You know how fattening all that carbs and sugar are? I like my dates to be healthy."

"What?" You asked flatly. Did you really hear what you just did? Hypnos and his date were both staring at Charlie. Hypnos looked furious and You saw the girl send you a pitying look.

"Oh. come on, you know I don't mean it like that."

You suddenly lost any appetite you had and pushed the plate of food away. You looked toward your friend who remained blissfully unaware of your pain.

Your date swung an arm on your shoulders, you sighed annoyed at the causal possiveness. You only knew them for like two hours but they were already acting like you were going steady.

"Ready to hit the club, Y/N?" Your date asked.

You almost groaned, you had forgotten about the stupid club.

"Uh, sure. Yeah." You tried to wiggle your date's arm off but no dice. You thought you saw Hypnos send a disapproving look at your date but you weren't sure. No point getting your hopes up.

As you exited the diner, Hypnos tripped; knocking into your date and their arms off your shoulders.

Grateful for the excuse, you took a few steps out of their reach.

"Oops, my bad." Hypnos smiled widely, and gave a shoulder pat to your date who glared at him. "Just watch it alright?" Your date snapped as they made it to the carpool.

In the car, you peeked at Hypnos who just winked at you. You didn't hide your smile this time.

The club did nothing to improve your date or your mood. The loud bassy music was almost too loud to hear anyone and your date kept trying to get you to stay on the dance floor.

You were able to duck out of their hold and pointed to the table. They tried to tell you something but You didn't stick around.

You almost fell into the booth, your feet were throbbing and you just wanted to go home. You could just see your homework growing by the hour.

"Need water?" Hypnos asked. You looked up, "Oh I didn't know you were at the table. Yes please."

He handed you an icy cold bottle and you moaned at how good it tasted. He laughed and you blushed, feeling foolish.

"Sorry, thank you." You took a slip, without moaning this time thankfully.

Hypnos went back to his phone, fingers moving quickly. "No problem."

"Where is… um what was her name?" You asked, trying not to look at Hypnos too much. How dare he look this good in the club' dim lighting.

"Oh I forgot her name. But she is doing fine. Told me she was going home with her ex." He pointed to the dance floor where the girl was dancing against another guy, their mouths glued together.

You looked back at him, but he already was back to texting on his phone. He didn't seem upset at all.

"I'm sorry, Hypnos." You said awkwardly, not sure of what to make of this whole night.

"Don't be. I'm not." He shrugged. You couldn't help but notice how nicely the red hoodie fit him.

"I will admit though I don't think I will be trusting our friend's matchmaking skills after tonight." Hypnos looked at you, his amused smile made you smile in return.

"You and I both." You murmured your agreement.

You finished off your drink, eyeing him.

After a few more minutes, your willpower broke.

"Okay I gotta know. It has been months since I met you and it is bugging the crap out of me." You leaned forward to him.

He looked up from his phone, a white eyebrow raised.

"Is Hypnos your real name?" You asked him, not quite able to look away from him. You were being a silly school girl and you knew it.

He laughed, "Yeah, it is." He moved closer, his eyes bright. "Wanna know why?"

At your nod, he spoke. "When my mom was pregnant with me and my brother. She got kinda crunchy, got into healing crystals and tarot cards, stuff like that."

Hypnos waved a hand. "So when she couldn't pick names for us, she went to a psychic, who told her that she was a reincarnation of the goddess Nyx. And apparently she was pregnant again with the reincarnated gods of sleep and death."

You couldn't help the small laugh and Hypnos chuckled as he took a sip of his beer.

"Mom believed the guy." He pointed to himself, " So ta-da I got named Hypnos. And my brother is Thanatos."

"Your mom sounds like a fun lady." You played with your hair, enjoying the warmth in your stomach. You couldn't remember the last time someone made you feel such things.

"Oh definitely. I never know what I'm going to get when I see her." Hypnos said fondly.

When You shifted your seat, your leg brushed against his. You almost pulled away but Hypnos pressed his leg against yours. You could feel the heat of his body and it just made you want more.

His golden eyes searched yours, silently asking if he could do this. You returned the gentle pressure and flushed at his soft smile.

"How does your brother handle the whole Thanos name thing?" You asked, desperately trying to calm your racing heart.

A devious glint lit Hypnos' eyes, "Oh he hates it so much. He already hated the whole super hero thing. Last year for his birthday, I got him a cardboard cutout of the big guy. I thought he was going to shove it down my throat. I got his boyfriend Zagreus and their girlfriend Meg in on it this year, we going to -"

"Hey Y/N. Are you coming back to the floor?" Charlie's eyes narrowed, "Hypnos, I think your actual date is looking for you."

You pulled away, you had forgotten about Charlie and you couldn't help but feel some guilt, even if you didn't like them that much or at all.

Hypnos stayed in place, amusement on his face. You saw Charlie's fists clenched and knew they were about to start a fight and stood up.

You were definitely going to block Charlie's number after tonight was over.

"Come on, let's get some drinks for everyone. They should be coming back soon." You motioned for Charlie to follow you. They glared at Hypnos before following you.

You couldn't resist a quick glance back to Hypnos, who raised his beer at you in a 'cheers' motion.

💤☁️💤

Charlie was sullen and quiet as you ordered more drinks for the group. You couldn't blame them really, anyone would be put out when their dates are clearly having a better time with someone else.

Well, not Hypnos but Hypnos wasn't exactly normal, you thought fondly.

You tapped the bar, guilt gnawed at your guts as your thoughts went back to Hypnos.

"So what were you guys talking about?" Charlie slurred, his tone icy.

You took a breath, just a few more hours you reminded yourself. "Nothing much. Just about his brothers and stuff."

Charlie crowded into your space. You can smell the booze and sweat on them.

"You guys seemed like you were sitting pretty close considering you were talking about 'brothers'." They did a finger quote.

You rolled your eyes, unable to stand being near them any longer. You stepped away to head back to let your friends you were bailing for the night.

"Tell me what he said to you." Charlie demanded as they grabbed your wrist harshly.

"Ow, let go of me! You are hurting me, Charlie." You hissed, trying not to draw any attention.

"Tell me." They hisses back.

"I did. Buy your own drink, I'm going home." You tried to yank your hand away but they didn't let go.

"Look I've been nothing but nice to you and you're cuddling up to another guy on our date like some slut." They changed their tone, trying to sound more upset than controlling but it just made your stomach twisted in disgust.

You opened your mouth to defend yourself but after a moment you shut it, "You're right. Clearly this isn't going to work out so let me go."

"No, you own me something, Y/N." Charlie leaned toward you. "And I'm not leaving empty handed."

"Fuck off." You snapped, fear rising in your chest.

"Hey, man." Hypnos grabbed Charlie's wrist and squeezed tightly enough that they were forced to let go of your wrist. His normal light-hearted tone was hard. "I think Y/N had enough of your company tonight."

You took some steps back, shaking a little. Without looking at you, Hypnos asked. "Y/N, do you need to go get anything?"

"N-no. I have everything. I want to leave." You hated how weak you sounded and you wished that you never came out at all.

Hypnos held on to Charlie's wrist and yanked them toward him. You heard Hypnos murmur something to them.

Fear flashed over Charlie's face and they stumbled backward. "Fine. Whatever asshole."

Hypnos turned to you, his eyes darkened by his anger. "Come on, I can get you a ride home."

You just nodded, feeling very exhausted and close to tears.

💤☁️💤

The cold wind felt like heaven after the heat of the overflowing club. At least for the first two minutes.

You just walked, not quite sure where to go. Hypnos walked next to you, easily keeping up with your pace.

Neither one of you said anything as you tried to process the horrible night.

After walking for ten more minutes, Hypnos spoke up. "There is a park nearby, we should be able to find a park bench."

You just nodded, Hypnos offered an arm and after a moment you took it. You pressed your cheek against his shoulder, soaking in his body heat.

The park was empty, lit by warm path lights.

"Thank you." You said. "You didn't have to do anything for me."

"It's all good. How about the wrist?" Hypnos asked softly.

"It doesn't hurt. Thank you since you stepped in." You patted his forearm.

Hypnos sighed, "No. Not thanks to me actually. Its kinda my fault, I've been pushing their buttons for most of the night."

You looked up at Hypnos, your brow furrowed. "What? No, they have been pretty rude since the start of the date. I mean, you heard the salad thing. They ordered it for me!"

Hypnos shook his head. His breath coming out in white puffs. "Yeah and because I was jealous, I made a bad date into a nightmare. I knew I was making them feel all threatened, it wasn't hard honestly. I didn't think they would grab you like that. I just thought they would be a bad date you could laugh about later."

It took you a moment to process his words. You stopped on the park path, staring off at the lake.

"You were jealous?" You asked, not quite believing what you were hearing.

"Very." Hypnos chuckled bitterly.

"Hypnos, you are an idiot." You said blankly.

He opened his mouth to say something but you pulled him down by his collar to kiss him.

At first, Hypnos doesn't return your kiss and you pull away, an apology already on your lips.

But he cupped your face and met you again in a sweet, slow kiss. He kept pulling away to press chaste kisses against your lips and cheeks.

"Damnit, I was planning on asking out you after our last class assignment. I had a plan for everything. I was going to take you to your favorite coffee shop and buy you that dumb drink you like. Take you the park by our dorms and ask you by the duck pond." Hypnos said between kisses and pressing one last long kiss against your lips.

You hummed, unable to think straight. "Our friend ruined that, huh." You laughed when you could feel him growled against your lips. "You have no idea, I had a speech and everything."

After another long and soft kiss, both of you pulled away only to met again in a forehead press. Your white puffs of breath mingled together and your heart felt so full.

"You could still do the coffee and the speech. And the ducks." You whispered.

"Yeah?" Hypnos asked softly, his thumb caressed your cheek.

"I have to do a lab with a very cute classmate tomorrow but I'm free after that." You flushed, pleased at the fond smile Hypnos had.

"That's funny, so am I." Hypnos replied.

Unable to hold off any longer, you pulled him into another kiss, one of the many yet to come.

[twistedtranslations]

Rook Hunt - The real culprit is... you!

You can unlock this story by getting Rook’s SSR Dorm uniform

Translation under the cut

Rook calls Epel “himeringo”, the Japanese word for plumleaf crabapple. I shortened it.

As we know already, Epel sometimes slips in his country accent, hence the weird wording.

Chapter 1

Courtyard

Vil: …8…9…10! Next up is the camel pose. Push your chest out and lean your upper body backward. Hold your ankles with your hands and keep that pose.

Everyone: Yes!

Epel: Ugh… Rook…

Rook: What is it, monsieur Crabapple?

Epel: I came to help with the shooting of the next work of the cinema studies club, but… Argh! Why are we doing yoga… Ugh?

Rook: Epel, you know, it's because we wanted you to take part in relaxing activities. If people relaxed, they will become more flexible mentally, and more active in discussions and communication. Yoga is the best exercise to improve your blood flow, metabolism and it soothes your mind. Moreso, your posture and physique will become much more beautiful! That's why Vil does yoga before his cinema studies activities.

Epel: I, I see… Is there…. An easier method?

Rook: By the way, Epel. You should bend your back more if you want to call it a camel pose. Okay, I will help you out and pull your arms back!

Epel: Eh, no, I'm fine- OUCH!!!!

Rook: Hahaha, monsieur Crabapple, you're body is quite stiff.

Savanaclaw Student A: Hey, look, it's the guys from the cinema studies. What a weird-looking pose is that! Man, I'd be way too embarrassed to wriggle like that in front of everyone.

Cinema studies Student A: Why are you guys butting in suddenly? This is just yoga…

Cinema studies Student B: Leave it be. Those muscle brains from Savanaclaw wouldn't understand our graceful bodybuilding.

Savanaclaw Student B: Huh? Are you picking a fight!

Rook: Oh please, there's no need to get angry! Why don't you join us? We can polish our beauty and deepen our friendship with yoga!

Savanaclaw Student A: Who'd do that! Beauty won't fill your belly. C'mon, let's go.

Epel: … friggin' irritatin'. Rook, I don't know how or why you could invite those guys…

Rook: I thought they might understand the benefits of yoga if they did it. How regrettable. Oh, me of all people! While I was talking, I forgot to help you out. My bad, let's continue.

Epel; Um, no, I don't need it… OUCH!!!!

Vil: Epel?

Epel: Ah… Vil.

Vil: I thought I heard a crushed frog's ugly cry, but that was my imagination, wasn't it?

Epel: Ugh… I'm sorry, I'll pay attention to it.

Vil: Rook, I think there will be no problems if you are by his side but… If anything happens, I hope you will "properly" discipline him. Not only does he lack in manners and aesthetics, but many other facets as well.

Epel: Is… that so?

Vil: Didn't you get frustrated when the Savanaclaw students reprimanded you? Do not involve Pomefiore in trivial arguments. Understood?

Epel: Understood…

Vil: Rook. If Epel quarrels with other dorm students during the shooting period… I will expel you two from the cinema studies- no, the dorm.

Epel: … I'm only here because you asked me to help.

Vil: Did you say anything?

Epel: Nuthin’- I mean, I said nothing.

Vil: In any case. Please refrain from idiotic behavior that could tarnish Pomefiore's name.

Rook: Oui, Roi du Poison. Leave it to me!

Cinema studies Student A: Those three seem to get along well as usual…

Cinema studies Student C: Epel and Rook are amazing. Leaving out the fact that they're from the same dorm, they can talk to Vil so casually. Perhaps I'm still too nervous because I saw him on the TV and in magazines before I entered the college?

Cinema studies Student A: Right. They're amazing for being able to to talk with him without constraints.

Interior Hallway

The next day

Epel: Ah, Rook.

Rook: Hello, Epel. You're here early.

Epel: Yes. My class finished early…

Students: Congratulations!

Rook: You guys too… We are the most enthusiastic people in the club today.

Classroom

Rook: Vil isn't here today because of work, therefore I will instruct you on the activities…

Cinema Studies B: … Is something wrong?

Rook: La vache (Oh the cow)… how terrible. Look at that.

Epel: Argh! Vil's clothes are torn into pieces!?

Cinema studies Student A: And it's not only his clothes but also the photo sets on the wall…

Everyone: !!

Epel: The heck, what are those weird words written in red…

Rook: "A defective beauty"… It must be a message from the one who tore up the clothes. Fufu, this is quite a case… And a direct declaration of war on us!!

Chapter 2

Classroom

Rook: Fufu, this is quite a case… And a direct declaration of war on us!!

Epel: Is there anyone in the cinema studies club who’d tear up his clothes with ill intent…? Who would do that…

Cinema studies Student A: Hey, those marks on those ripped clothes… Don't they look like they've been made by sharp claws?

Cinema studies Student B: Claws… Then this could be the work of the Savanaclaw students. But why would they…

Cinema studies Student A: … Could it be those guys from yesterday?

Epel: Do you mean the ones who made fun of us..?

Cinema studies Student A: Yeah. The guys from Savanaclaw said it then, right? "Beauty" won't fill your belly.

Cinema studies Student B: So a Savanaclaw student with a grudge from yesterday wrote a message on the wall and tore up Vil's clothes?

Epel: If they didn't like it, they can face us up front. This is cowardly.

Cinema studies Student A: Epel, you are a good person. Even though you aren't part of the cinema club, you still get angry for us.

Epel: I ain't forgivin' them for goin' behind our backs… I mean, we cannot allow them to do this.

Cinema studies Student C: Yeah. We won't stay quiet about these precious clothes being destroyed!

Epel: Yeah! Let's search for those guys from yesterday and have'm complain to our face!

Everyone: Yeah!

Cinema studies Student A: Hey, wait everyone- ... And they went.

Rook: Oho, everyone seems very passionate.

Cinema studies Student A: Rook, are you not following them?

Rook: The sadness of losing such a beautiful thing stunned me for a moment.

Cinema studies Student A: … I see. I'll stop Epel and the others.

Rook: Oh my, to be in such a situation on the day Vil isn't here. Or to be more precise, "because he isn't here". Moreso… "A defective beauty". I should solve this case before Vil returns. 

Rook: I should investigate to see if I can find evidence that links to the culprit. Let's start at the place where the fabric was torn. …As I expected. It's not a scratch even though it resembles one. They used 25 cm long scissors with 9 cm long blades to cut it. From the angle of the tears, I can guess that the culprit is right-handed. They held it with their left hand by the torso and used their right hand to cut from the shoulder to the waist with the scissors… 

Rook: The culprit is probably around 168-172 cm. That narrows it down a bit! Fufufu…  Even though I've experienced the hunt for an animal's traces many times, it still elates me. Oho, I can't let myself get carried away. I have to concentrate on the investigation… … Aha. I see… Fufu, I have deduced the animal. Now it's hunting time!

Courtyard

Savanaclaw Student A: Shut up! We didn't do it. Who gives a shit about your clothes!

Epel: If there's anythin' you wanted to say, tell 's up front instead of harassin'… you're so unmanly, senior.

Savanclaw Student A: What!?

Cinema studies Student B: If we cannot agree and don't progress then… We will have a duel!!!!

Savanaclaw Student B: Hah, come at me. I don't think you culture boys will be much of an opponent though.

Everyone: HAAAAH!!

/Fighting sounds

???: Stop it!

Savanaclaw Student A: Huh…

Cinema studies Student A: All our magic was swept away!?

Epel: Rook!?

Rook: Turn your magical pen in, everyone. It's forbidden to use magic for your personal struggles. Besides, you’re in the wrong by blaming them. They have nothing to do with what happened.

Epel: Huh…

Savanaclaw Student B: Pf! You got us involved in some weird stuff. We did nothin' so we're off.

Cinema studies Student B: … How foolish! If they didn't do it, then please tell us who did such a horrible thing!

Rook: The cause of this tragedy is deep love. The real culprit is… You!

Chapter 3

Rook: The cause of this tragedy is deep love. The real culprit is… You!

Courtyard

Cinema studies Student B/Epel: Huh…

Cinema studies Student C/D: No way…

Cinema studies Student A: …

Cinema studies Student B: He can't be the culprit, Rook! He's the costumer of the cinema studies club!?

Cinema studies Student A: That's right. You saw it, right? That "A Defective beauty", what a disgusting and criminal declaration!!

Rook: Yes, I saw it. That felt out of place. As the Savanclaw students said, they don't only not care , but even negate the very existence of "beauty". Despite that, do you think they would use an eloquent expression like "Defective"? While I was thinking about that, I inspected the garment that seemed to be torn apart by claws carefully.. And followed the clues to you.

Cinema studies Student A: Why… Me?

Rook: The scratches on the garments. They were cut by scissors in the shape of a beast's talons. And by examining the traces of your cut, I could deduce their height and their dominant arm, which happens to concur with yours. And there's more evidence. What I hold in my hand right now is a piece cut from the garments… Look at the lining?

Epel: The lining? What's wrong with it?

Rook: It's loosely sewn. This garment hasn't been used once for a photoshoot, and it's not the only part that doesn't harmonize well on the camera… Vil is the kind of person who strives for perfect quality from the fabric to the sewing and the accessories. He wouldn't have let this shoddy tailoring pass.

Epel: Um, so someone tore up the garments of the cinema studies club. But it was a fake, and not the real one…? I, I'm confused.

Rook: He hesitated at the moment of the crime when he was about to tear Vil's clothes, so he replaced it with a fake. The essential part is that the fake was made intending to fit Vil perfectly. There are only two people besides Vil that know his measurements exactly. The first one is me. And the other one is…

Epel: The costumer… who is in charge of taking his measurements?

Cinema studies Student A: Ugh…

Rook: I suggest you don't make more excuses now. Won't you tell us your reason?

Cinema studies Student A: I-, I did it because… I was jealous! You and Epel get along great with the esteemed Vil!

Epel: Huh! You think we're getting along great? The only thing he does is scold me though…

Cinema studies Student A: That's plenty! I admire Vil, studied what he likes, and devoted myself with all my might to the cinema studies club! Even so, I never got any closer to him since I enrolled! So I tried to make you two fight the other dorms…  and have you expelled from the cinema studies club.

Epel: Well ain't you a peach…

Cinema studies Student A: … I'm sorry for causing an inconvenience to everyone in the club. I'll take responsibility and quit the club.

Rook: Quit the club? Non!! That would be outrageous, my dear costumer!

Everyone: Huh!?

Cinema studies Student A: W-Why…

Rook: This case. His love for Vil created and destroyed it. Thus… Love only won't make you able to finish a piece that can be mistaken for the real thing. The way your fingers assembled this with thread and needle, it's actually beautiful. If the cinema studies club were to lose a talent like yours, Vil wouldn't be pleased. Your atonement will be your contributions to the club.

Cinema studies Student B: It's just as Rook says. You are the best out of us at dressmaking, if you weren't here it would stump us. Come on, let's go back to the clubroom. Let's repair this garment before Vil comes back from his work!

Cinema studies Student A: ! Y-Yes!!

Rook: Okay! That settles one case.

Epel: Rook! That was splendid. You are so observant, to tell it's a counterfeit just by the seams.

Rook: Ah. That was a lie! No one hand-sews anything these times. They all use a sewing machine. You can't see that with the naked eye, right? It was a trick.

Epel: Huh… Huuuh!? Then how did you know it was a fake?

Rook: Fufufu, the truth is much simpler. Smell. The counterfeit clothes didn't have a single atom of the characteristic and unique mellow fragrance that Vil has, so I knew immediately.

Epel: What!? That investigation method is kinda… gross, you know?

Rook: Listen, Epel. I regard the information you can get by smelling highly, as it's useful for hunting. You can know the places one visited or in this case, the person's characteristics, by the traces of their smell. For example… sniff sniff. What you had for lunch today-

Epel: Argh!? S-Stop this!

Rook: Hahaha! Just kidding. My nose isn't that good either.

Epel: I thought you were amazing like a detective, but… maybe you're really just a weirdo.

[xofanfics]

Without Warning - Part IV

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V

Genre: angst, slight fluff

Pairing: Reader x Mark ft. Doyoung

Word Count: 3k

Summary: You and Doyoung had the best summer you could. Now that he’s hundreds of miles away in college, you have to go through senior year alone. You meet Mark at a time when Doyoung is making you feel like you’re single.

Mark was completely taken aback by the events of the night. You’d kissed him and you held his hand and you brought him into your room. Mark could hardly contain his excitement about having kissed you, touched you, and having been close enough to pick up on your scent. For him it wasn’t sexual. It didn’t have to be and, to be honest, he didn’t want it to be. At least, not right now. For now, he was just enjoying this innocence with you.

You went in your drawers and pulled out pajamas, sending Mark into anxiety. Please don’t change in front of me, please don’t change in front of me, he thought. The last thing he needed was to get hard right now and to potentially scare you away. He definitely wasn’t ready for something like that. Thankfully, you excused yourself into the bathroom and returned a couple minutes later with a freshly washed face and pajamas on. 

You looked beautiful as ever, even with no makeup on. He’d seen you a few times without makeup but on most days, he noticed, you’d at least be wearing eyeliner. But here you were, no eyeliner, no mascara, and none of your usual lipgloss with the slight pink tint to it. 

Mark was lying across your bed, heart racing. He was nervous because he’d never seen you in this state and, of course, because he liked you a lot. “You feeling okay?”

You nodded. “Just a little tired. Do you wanna watch my show with me?”

“Yeah. What show?”

“I started rewatching Sailor Moon.”

“I’m down for whatever.” 

You crawled into the bed with him and snuggled up to him, lying on his chest. He wasn’t sure if you could hear his heart racing but it was definitely racing. His heart pounded so hard he could hear it in his ears. He didn’t know if it was because he’d been drinking or what; he just knew that he was very aware of himself right now. Was he breathing too hard? Was he breathing at all? Did he still smell like alcohol? Did you actually like him, the same way he did? He had so many questions and most of them, he couldn’t answer at the moment.

One minute you were watching tv in silence and the next minute, you were asleep. Mark looked down at you and smiled at how cute you looked with your mouth slightly open. He wished he had this view all the time. With a sigh, he thought about all the things you could do if you were his. But for now, he caressed your hand as you slept. He stayed like that with you for the rest of the episode before he figured he shouldn’t overstay his welcome. He scooted from underneath you but before he could get out of the bed you reached out for him, grabbing onto his arm.

“Don’t go,” you mumbled.

“What?”

You opened your eyes and pouted. “Cuddle with me…”

Mark’s heart started racing again but he did what you asked. Plus, how could he resist when you made a face like that. He got under the blanket with you and pulled you closer. You snuggled up to him and said, “Goodnight.” Mark smiled and wrapped his arms around you. And with you in his arms, he fell asleep more quickly than he normally would. 

*

“Y/N?”

Mark shot up, realizing that he probably should’ve asked you when and if your mom was coming back home. He looked down at you, still fast asleep. Should he hide under the bed? In the closet? He heard footsteps coming toward the closed door. Mark bolted into the closet, hoping that the door wasn’t the kind that would squeak as you opened it. Thankfully, it didn’t and he closed the door just enough. He took in a deep breath, praying that your mom had no reason to look in the closet.

“Y/N?” your mom said. She opened the door and Mark heard your mattress shift from outside the closet. 

“Hey,” you said. He heard you yawn loudly. He couldn’t see you but he imagined it in his mind. 

His heart raced while your mother spoke. Was he breathing too loud? Could your mom somehow sense his presence? Thankfully, he’d come over in his socks so there weren’t any shoes by the door to be evidence. He’d met your mom a couple times at this point but he was pretty sure your mom wouldn’t have been very happy to come home and find the two of you asleep in each other’s arms. 

“Did you have fun with Mark and your friends?” She chuckled as Mark’s heart continued racing. “That’s good to hear. Anyway, it’s been a very long double shift so I think I’m going to take a bath with those bath salts you got me for my birthday. Get a little more sleep.”

“Okay,” you said, “See you later.”

Mark heard the door close and relief swept over him. A moment later, when he was sure your mom was gone, he whispered, “Y/N…”

“Mark?” You opened the closet door, surprised that Mark was there. You found him in between your jeans and your t-shirts. “Oh my God, I thought you left! I’m sorry, I forgot to set my alarm. I should’ve told you my mom was coming home in the morning. Unfortunately, she’s not on vacation in Mexico...”

“It’s all good,” he said, chuckling as he stepped out of the closet. “As long as she didn’t see us in the bed together, I think we’ll both survive.”

You laughed, too. “That was way too close.”

“Yeah, for sure. I should get out of here before your mom comes back...”

You nodded, moving out of his way. “Let me make sure she’s in the bathroom.” You left him in the room for a moment. Mark grabbed his phone from under your pillow. You came back and said, “The coast is clear.” 

You waved him over and he followed you to the front door. 

Mark turned to you. He needed to know before leaving here. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah,” you said, stretching.

“Do you remember anything from last night?”

You nodded. “I remember everything. I meant everything.”

That brought a wide smile to Mark’s face. He felt his cheeks get hot and he wasn’t sure if he was visibly blushing or not. Then again, he didn’t care. Hell, if you meant all the things you’d said, nothing else mattered. You wanted to kiss him, genuinely. He wasn’t sure if you liked him like that but you clearly felt something. And, for now, that was good enough for him.

You had something you wanted to say but you hesitated. Things had taken a turn since last night. “Um…”

Mark noticed your hesitation. He supposed things did get a little awkward. “What’s up?”

“Since we’re sober now, will you kiss me?” you asked, taking Mark by surprise. You’d been so forward for the last ten hours and he had no idea what to make of any of this. You didn’t know what had come over you the past few hours.

“Yeah.” 

Mark leaned in slowly, pressing his lips to yours. Your lips felt the same, more or less. They weren’t as moist without lipgloss and they no longer tasted like cotton candy. But he enjoyed the kiss with you nevertheless. He pulled away a few seconds later with a smile. You looked into each other’s eyes for a moment and he kissed you again. “Is that what you wanted?”

“Yep.” You took his hand in yours and squeezed it. “Now get out of here before my mom catches you here.”

With a chuckle and a kiss on your cheek, Mark was gone with the wind. 

*

Doyoung was annoyed and frustrated. He’d been trying to contact you for weeks on end to no avail. You’d dodged every obstacle. He’d hit you up on LINKEDIN, for God’s sake. He was putting in all that effort and you ignored him every time. He’d tried contacting you through your friends, on social media, and so on. But there was never any response. 

And then the one opportunity he had to talk to you, you were drunk off your ass. Was it that bad that you couldn’t contact him sober? Was it that bad that you had to be drunk to speak to him?

He was frustrated because he fucked up. He fucked up and he didn’t mean to. New stressors in his life weren’t any excuse to treat you the way he did. He got caught up in this new life and he took you for granted. He assumed you’d stick around because you loved each other, even though he hadn’t been acting like it. College life became more important to him that managing the relationship. But he snapped that one time and that was all it took to destroy the relationship. He was so stupid not to realize what was going on, not to realize how distant he’d become. It didn’t look good on his part, as your boyfriend.

How could he have been so stupid? He missed you. Some days, you were all he thought about. Were you sleeping well at night? Were you having fun? Did you...miss him? 

He was frustrated because he made a mistake, one that cost him even his friendship with you. He lost his girlfriend and his best friend, all at once. And he hated it. He missed being able to vent to you when he’d had a shitty day and he wished that he could call and tell you about it. But you took that option away from him and Amber and Phil weren’t much help either. He didn’t want to put them in the middle; it was an issue that he had with you and it wasn’t right to try to go through them.

Doyoung’s phone rang on his desk, disrupting him from his thoughts. It was his mother. She was the last person he wanted to speak to right now. He let it ring, hoping that she’d just leave it at that. The phone stopped ringing and he let out a sigh of relief. The relief only lasted for a few seconds and she started calling again. Doyoung rolled his eyes and sighed instead of hurling the phone across the room like he’d imagined in his head. He picked up the phone from off the desk and answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hey mom.”

“Just calling to check on you. How is everything?”

“It’s going okay. I’m working on a paper right now. I’m almost done. I got an B on my biology exam. I think I’m getting the hang of how I need to study for that class.”

“That’s good to hear. I’m sure you’ll do better for the next exam. Start preparing now so you can get a head start.” She cleared her throat. “Did you book your flight yet?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I’ve been so busy. I meant to tell you about it yesterday.”

“Good. The prices were getting more expensive.” She let out a deep sigh. “I can’t believe your brother is getting married in three weeks.”

“I can’t believe I’m going to have to come right back to school after.”

“Me either. But you know how event venues are. They got a good deal considering it’s a weekend.”

“It’s going to be a long weekend.”

It would be. But all he could think about was the possibility of seeing you while he was back home. He had so many things he wanted to say, so many things to make up for. He just wanted confirmation if things between you two were truly over. What would he find if he looked you in your eyes? Love, hate, or indifference?

*

Amber hit you in the arm with the copy of Romeo and Juliet that had been sitting on your desk. “You and Mark what?” 

You shrugged and said, “We kissed...a few times. And he might’ve slept over last night...”

“Slept over? Did you guys do it?”

“No!” you said, probably a little more loudly than necessary. “It wasn’t like that. We just...cuddled and slept. But I forgot to set an alarm for when my mom came back so Mark must’ve heard her calling me and he hid in the closet.” You grabbed an oreo from the box sitting in the middle of the bed as Amber sat cross legged at the foot of the bed, waiting for the rest of the story. “At first I was sad because I thought he left in the middle of the night but he ended up in the closet because my mom came in to say hi.”

“Well this was definitely unexpected,” she said, “but Mark’s a pretty decent guy, being from the male species and all.”

“Yeah…”

“Why didn’t you tell me you liked Mark?”

“I didn’t know. I mean, I never thought about it.”

“So you’re not sure?”

“I think I do like him…I mean, I liked the kiss and the cuddling. And it’s not like he’s not attractive.”

“You’re not using him to get over Doyoung, right?”

You shook your head. Of course, getting over a two year relationship wouldn’t be easy but you had to move on eventually. And, with the way he treated you, it would be easier once you met someone who truly had your best interests in mind. Mark was a sweet guy and he was a good friend. Even though things had been platonic up until this point, Mark had become one of your closest friends. You could trust him with your life and you knew that, perhaps, you could trust him with your heart, too.

You weren’t sure what came over you that night but all you could think of at the time was “What if we kissed?” The alcohol gave you the nudge but you found yourself thinking of Mark constantly. And every time you did, you smiled. You remembered how you felt when things had gotten more romantic with Doyoung. You’d get butterflies when you heard his name and you were excited to see him everyday at school.

It was pretty early on but you knew that you were starting to like Mark, as more than just a friend.

*

Lucas jogged over toward Mark, sweaty and exhausted. He plopped down on the bench next to his friend and took a long swig from his water bottle. They’d been playing basketball for about an hour. “Ready to go?”

Mark nodded, standing up. “Yeah, let’s head back. I’m starving.”

Lucas stood too and they headed to the parking lot, in search of the car. Mark took out the keys to his parents’ car and got in. As Lucas got in the passenger, he said, “So what happened after we left last night? Did you tell her you like her?”

“Well we, uh, kissed...and I did tell her I like her.”

Lucas smirked. “So she likes you after all, huh?”

“I mean, I think so.”

“What do you mean, you think so? Did you ask her?”

“I mean I didn’t ask her directly.”

“So what the hell did you talk about then?”

“Well we actually didn’t do too much talking.” 

As soon as the words left Mark’s mouth, he regretted them. He knew that it sounded a lot dirtier than he meant. And he knew that Lucas would take it the wrong way.

Lucas’ eyes widened as he took it the wrong way. “You fucked her?”

Mark turned in his seat. “No, no! We didn’t have sex or anything like that. I know it sounds kinda weird but she brought me over next door to hangout because she didn’t wanna be alone and then she kissed me and then she wanted me to stay over and cuddle with her. So we cuddled and we both fell asleep.”

“Cuddle, huh? We all know what cuddling leads to…”

“Hey, just because that’s what you and Marina do doesn’t mean it’s the same for me and Y/N! When are you going to start dating her anyway?”

“Hey! Don’t change the subject! We’re not talking about me and Rina. When are you going to take Y/N on a date?”

“Soon. I’m just not sure what we should do. Got any date ideas?”

“Y/N is a pretty simple girl. What about a picnic at the park? You could go around dinner and watch the sun set.”

*

Mark was feeling extra excited today. He got to the bus stop a few minutes early, so he could rehearse what he was going to say to you. He’d rehearsed it a million times last night into this morning. Initially, he thought about texting it to you but he decided against it; he figured that asking you in person would be better.

He’d been texting you all weekend but he hadn’t hung out with you. Part of him was hoping that the two of you could hang out at least once but you’d been out with your mom all day yesterday. And he understood because your mom hadn’t had a Sunday off in a while. He was satisfied with the kiss you promised him over text messages. 

You snuck up on Mark without meaning to. He’d been so deep in his thoughts that he didn’t even see you coming in his peripheral vision. He jumped when you appeared in front of him, almost dropping his phone. “Shit!”

“Sorry,” you said, giggling, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s okay.” He sighed. “Ready for school?”

“I’m never ready for school.”

Mark chuckled. “Are you busy this weekend?”

You shook your head. “Nope.”

“Would you wanna go on a date on Saturday?”

Your face lit up at his words. That made Mark happy. “I’d love that.” You hugged him, wrapping your arms around him tightly. And when you pulled away, you gave him that promised kiss. 

That, of course, made Mark even happier.

***

TAG LIST: @wanlore​

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[maadorii]

you’re gonna wanna be my best friend— y. itadori x gn! reader

max.note’s: this is my child, my baby and i love it. probably my favorite fic i’ve ever wrote uwu i think the ending is bit rushed but that’s i was writing this at 4am (i’m also trying out a new layout-ish so yea) 

synopsis—where you and Itadori came up with the greatest, yet stupidest idea in your lives: getting married to lower your tuition cost. what could go wrong? well, there’s getting caught by the government, and then there’s potentially falling in love with your best friend. 

warning/tags: best friends to lovers, mutual pining, characters aged up (18+), high school/college au, modern au, fluff & crack, megumi is the only one with a working brain cell 

w. count— 3.1k

“yuuji, what’re we gonna do!?” you exclaimed, pacing around the open space of said boy’s bedroom. itadori groaned loudly from his spot on his bed, tugging at the skin underneath his eyes with him. 

looking down at the bright, bold red letters of the opened email on your phone screen, you internally cried to yourself, because… fuck. this is what all the hard work all four-years of high school led up to?

25, 580 dollars worth tuition left to pay, out of pocket. 

“i don’t fucking know. ...wait, do you think megumi would have an answer?” he perked up at his own, and quite frankly, idiotic idea like an excited puppy. if you squint you can see a tail wagging behind him. turning around to look at the pink headed boy, you practically leaped across the room to slap him repeatedly upside his head. 

“ow– hey... ouch! what the fuck?!” itadori whined, lifting his arms up to shield himself way from your merciless assault. “yuuji, are you dumb? we cannot, for the love of god, ask megumi. he’ll probably tell us to apply for a loan or something.” you snapped. 

“we’ll do that then, it can’t be that hard.” 

“have you seen your credit? there’s no way we're getting approved for a loan.” you exasperated as you folded your arms across your chest, plopping yourself down next to itadori. and the both of you were left to sit in condemning silence that laid itself like a thick, winter blanket over you. itadori could’ve sworn he heard the gears turning in your head because of the stark silence. 

you suddenly gasped, jumping to your feet. it was almost like a lightbulb went off on the top of your head. itadori gaped at you as your eyes lit up like stars, turning to him, it was your ‘aha’ moment. the biggest smile he’s ever seen on your face. he couldn’t help the tinge of nervousness settle in the pit of his tummy, probably for good reason.  

“here me out– what if we got married?” 

-

you and itadori meet in the lunchroom on the first day of school your freshman year of high school.

to say you meet by pure coincidence is actually a perfect explanation to describe what really went down. you remember how you sat alone at the lunch table, scrolling through your phone on social media when all of a sudden a rather energetic boy with pink hair crashed into your table. face planted in your bowl of greek yogurt. and it was the fancy kind too. 

the cafeteria around you erupted in laughter at the... spontaneous display happening before you. and although you wanted to laugh (in all honesty, it was funny), the boy below hasn’t moved an inch. truthfully, you were worried. 

“hey, um, are you okay?” you asked, nudging the top of his head. itadori didn’t show any sign of getting up. you nudged him a little harder, shaking his shoulder. with a gurgled grunt, itadori lifted his head from the bowl and the first thing that caught your eye was the crimson colored blood smeared along the stark white of the yogurt. there was a delirious look in his eye as if he wasn’t completely there in the real world. the laughter has long since died down, only a few strangers coming up to the table to record the aftermath. 

when itadori came to, he peered up at you through his yogurt clumped eyelashes and he felt his heart tighten considerably in his chest. 

“you okay? you’re... bleeding, a lot.” you asked again, gesturing to the entirety of his face. he didn’t say anything as he wiped around his nose, seeing the blood covered dairy. he looked mortified, now catching onto the stares and cameras by nosy teenagers being shoved in his face. reacting quickly, you reached out to one his unoccupied hand, gently guiding him in the direction of the nurses office. your footsteps echoed as you walked down the empty hallway, itadori following close behind you. neither of you said anything during the trip, nor when you entered the nurse’s office. it wasn’t until you had a warm wash rag against itadori’s cheek, wiping away the food and blood mixture, that he finally said something. 

“i’m... sorry, for ruining your lunch...” you stopped in your tracks, left to ponder in your thoughts. he’s sitting here with a busted lip and a shattered dignity... and he’s apologizing for face planting in your yogurt?

“hey, you have bigger things to worry about. so, what’s your name?” you continued to wipe at his face, waiting for him to reply.

“yuuji itadori.” and you saw the slightest glimpse of a smile tugging at the corner of his rosy lips. you returned the smile, teeth showing. 

from then on, you two were joined at the hip. there wasn’t anything you didn’t do together. 

there was something about itadori that brought out the inner child in you. he was sweet, loyal and compassionate. he was a lamp to a moth– hard to resist. hard to ignore. he was your first taste of an easy going life, being able to enjoy being a kid. 

on the other hand, you were the foundation he needed. you were open minded, authentic and grounded. you were the first thing in itadori’s life that felt stable. obtainable. your ambition turned into his drive; he wanted to be by your side for as long as possible. 

you both were something– somebody, each other needed the most. it’s like what they say: the best people in your life come when you need them the most. 

-

“are you two dumb or something? now, i expect this kinda thing from yuuji, but not you.”megumi quipped, left eyebrow arched in concern as he gestured towards your direction with his pencil. nobara in a similar state next to him, working on the worksheet the teacher handed out earlier. it was currently mid-way through the school day, you, itadori, megumi and nobara sat at your assigned table in statistics. it’s been about a week since your discussion with itadori about your... rather brilliant idea. 

“well, that’s harsh.” itadori grumbled, flipping him off. megumi snorted as he returned the gesture. “okay, now listen! they’re explaining the thingy.” 

you cleared your throat, sitting up straight to try to make yourself look dignified. “when applying for financial aid, if you’re married, we’ll be considered an independent on the document. meaning? more money!” 

“okay, well that’s great and all but, you do know you’ll be responsible for each other legally? as in, medical and money expenses. what would you do if either one of you dies? ” megumi questioned. you chuckled, wrapping your arm around itadori’s neck. “i’ve been legally responsible for him since freshman year, what’ll be the difference?” 

megumi rolled his eyes, burying his head in his hands. “god, you’re both so helpless.” 

“you know what megumi? i hope both sides of your pillow are warm when you go to sleep tonight.” itadori gasped in shock, hand reaching up to grip the cotton fabric of the shirt he was wearing. nobara snickered behind her hand to which megumi prompted to shift in her direction, whispering something along the lines of “don’t encourage them!”

“(y/n)! you did not just say that!?”

“i sure as hell did. and i’ll say it again!” you snapped your fingers, jutting out your hip. “and they’ll say it again!” itadori said, copying your actions.

megumi and nobara only watched in pity as the two of you continued to embarrass yourself in the middle of the classroom, other classmates turning to catch a peak of the commotion.

“wait, i got one, i got one! ahem, i hope you pour yourself a nice, big bowl of cereal of— what do you eat? apple jacks? only for there to be no milk!” 

you sputtered out a laugh, pounding your fist on the table. itadori was loud with laughter as well, body slung over the back of the chair.

megumi sighed, picking up his pencil to erase a mistake he spotted on his paper. he watched as the eraser smudged the lead on the paper instead of actually erasing it. watching the scene unfold before you, wheezing out another laugh, and clutching on to your stomach for relief. 

“shut the fuck up, the both of you.”

-

graduation was only a month away. 

teachers were cramming review lessons left and right. completing any last minute work to turn in. senior activities, trips, prom, and getting ready for what was to be the biggest day of your life. where all your hard work and putting up with the shitty ass public school system for 13 years will finally pay off. 

at least that’s how they make it seem. 

itadori was currently sitting in megumi’s living room, sprawled out on the floor like a starfish. his political science textbook laid open next to him. he’s been unusually quiet this afternoon, megumi noted when he would glance up from his own textbook in his lap.

“hey, yuuji? something the matter?”

itadori didn’t respond right away, instead, he shifted himself closer to megumi to lay his head on the other boy's lap. caught surprised by his actions, megumi tried to shove his head off but itadori being the stubborn man he was wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“god, you’re so annoying—“

“then why are you still friends with me?” his words were quick and sharp like a kitchen knife. and megumi had to take a second to pause. “is this what this is about?” itadori still hasn’t said anything, his body curling in on itself. eventually, he shook his head no. 

“alright... then what’s wrong?” 

megumi watched as itadori twiddled with fingers, reluctant to share his feelings with the other male. you see, the thing is that although megumi and itadori have been friends since middle school, they found it hard to share each other's feelings. especially megumi. they’ve always been the “i don’t know how to talk about my feelings so let me enjoy your company for a while?” type of friends. except for that one time. 

“it’s just... i’m not so sure if i want to marry (y/n) anymore...” megumi could barely hear what itadori said, but he caught it. and color him surprised. “have you finally come to senses that it’s a stupid idea?” 

“no, it’s not that–” megumi sighed internally, “–it’s just, what if our relationship changes after it’s finalized? we planned to do it after graduation a-and– it’s just a really scary thing to think about.” itadori’s voice began to warble, and megumi could feel his body tremble as the boy beneath tried to hold in his tears. 

in all the years they’ve known each other, itadori has only cried once in front of him. and that was the night of his 16th birthday. because itadori didn’t come from the best home, and at the time, only megumi knew of such disclosed information. 

“they said it themselves, you guys have always taken care of each other. so why do you think it’ll change things?” he gently tried to coax itadori into calming down, his hand stroking the soft tufts of his hair. thumb caressing his buzzcut. itadori sniffed, and megumi can hear the disgusting sound of snot being sucked back in his nostrils, but he refrained himself from reacting. 

“b-because, i just don’t want my feelings to get in the way, ya’ know? this is simply supposed to be platonic, but it isn’t anymore. at least for me.” 

and right then and there, megumi’s suspicions were confirmed. itadori did have feelings for you. more than what a best friend should have. “your feelings? and what might these feelings be, yuuji?” 

“that i want to spend a very long time with them, by their side. but not as their best friend. something more than that.” he let out a shuddered  exhale, and the room was engulfed with silence. megumi took this time to process what itadori said, the last four words resonating in his mind. 

something more than that.

megumi shifted itadori’s body off his, moving to sit up on his own. and that’s when he saw his face for the first time; his red-brimmed eyes and how the tears clumped his willowy eyelashes together. the tremble in his lips because, damn, he’s trying so hard to hold it in. 

he didn’t have anything to say– there wasn’t much to say to begin with, but megumi wrapped his arms around itadori in a hug. he felt him relax against his body, taking in the cool scent of his sweater. 

“it’s okay to be scared, yuuji, but i believe... you’re smart enough to make the right decision.” 

 - 

standing underneath the blazing summer heat, you stood in front of the court house waiting for itadori to show up. today was supposed to be the day, where you and itadori were to be married. it’s been thirty minutes and no itadori in sight. which is unlike him considering that he is, surprisingly, very punctual. he hasn’t even responded to any of your texts or calls, which also isn’t very much like him.

but those thirty minutes turned into an hour, that soon turned into two hours. 

and to say you were angry, was a complete understatement. you were livid. and that’s how you found yourself banging on itadori’s front door, ignoring the stares of the noisy next door neighbor peeping through their window. 

“yuuji! open the fucking door! i know your ass is in there, i can see your minecraft lamp turned on from your window.” you shouted, breathing heavily through your nose. there wasn’t an immediate response, only dead silence, which prompted you to raise your fist to go another round of beating up the door until the faint sound of footsteps reached the door. opening with a creak. 

there stood the man of the hour, yuuji ita- fucking- dori.

“there you are! dude, what the hell happened? why didn’t you show up at the courthouse today? did you forget or...” you were quick to jump the gun, bombarding him with questions left and right. 

“no... i didn’t forget.” was his reply, eye downcast to look at his sock clad feet. anywhere but your face right now. 

“then what yuuji? what could’ve been so important that you decided to just forget?” you flayed your arms around like a mad man, the anger rolling off your body in waves. you knew that you weren’t necessarily being fair to him right now, you can tell by his stand-offish attitude since opening the door. but you couldn’t bring yourself to care at the moment. 

itadori was reluctant to answer, his legs wobbly with the anxiety running rampant in his system. he was tempted to say sorry and be done with this, but then he remembered megumi’s words.    

...you’re smart enough to make the right decision. 

“because... because this isn’t a good idea anymore.” now you’re more confused than angry. 

“what do you mean this isn’t a good idea anymore,” you asked, placing your hand on your hip. “that's not what you said 4 months ago.” 

itadori sighed, starting to feel the twinge of annoyance in the tips of his fingers. he was starting to regret his choice of words. “i know what i said 4 months ago. but now 4 months later, i’ve changed my mind.” 

you wanted to laugh, but you couldn’t muster a bubble of it in your system. was he for real right now? 

“oh really? and why do you say that?” 

“it’ll change everything.” the reply was short. straight to the point. 

“what? no, it won’t! don’t be silly, we’ll still be best friends!” you try to muse, but itadori wasn’t budging. his face was disdained, detached from the world. the answer was sitting on the tip of his tongue, but he wasn’t ready to say it. especially in front of you. 

taking in his physique, your mind started to slow. you didn’t want to go there but you couldn’t help it. it was only natural, right? 

he’s been off putting since the graduation ceremony two weeks ago. he was so bright and happy that day, shoving his diploma in megumi’s face a numerous number of times. you remember the scream he let out when your name was called to walk across the stage of the arena. how embarrassed you felt as you did so, but a twinge of giddy happiness filled your chest. because he was calling out your name. your heart always did leap with joy when his attention was on you, and only you. the way he had you wrapped around his finger, without him even knowing. it takes you back to when you two first met, how you were so captivated by his amber eyes. the sudden urge to be there. to always be there and to be more. 

so... “do you not like me anymore? is this what this is about now?” it came out a whispered, and itadori was shocked nonetheless. now what were you talking about? 

“what, no! of course i still like you!” you almost laughed at how quickly he responded.

“then why? why did you–”

“i just didn’t want to make things awkward between us! i didn’t want to ruin our friendship with my... stupid feelings.” glancing up, you can see the slightest tint of pink on the roundness of his cheeks. awkward? ruin? 

you took a step forward, your hand reaching to hold his. kindly, thumbing his knuckles with your thumb. the way he always liked it. 

“yuuji, your feelings are never stupid. i’m your best friend–” with a frustrated huff, itadori ripped his hand away from yours. 

“but that’s the thing though! best friend this and best friend that– what if i don’t want to be your best friend anymore, hm? what if–” make the right decision, “what if i want to be more than that?”

more than that?

“you want to be more than friends? is what you’re saying.” itadori can almost feel himself shit his pants. 

that giddy feeling that always erupted whenever you were around him expanded ten fold. you’ll be damned: your best friend of four and a half years, was in love with you. the smile that you struggled to fight bloomed with mirth on your face. and itadori followed suit, reaching out to hold your hand once more.

not much needed to be said, the smile on your face was enough for him to put it all together. for once, he was actually smart enough to make a decision. a good one at that. 

copyright © 2021 maadorii. all rights reserved. 

[bechloeislegit]

Bechloe Week 2021 - Day 6

Neighbors AU

"Hold the elevator," a voice called out.

Beca recognized the voice and gave a small smile as she stuck her hand against the elevator door to keep it from closing.

"Thanks," the owner of the voice said without looking at Beca. She was on the phone and continued her conversation, ignoring Beca as she did so.

"Please, Brey! You have to do it."

Beca stood back watching her neighbor, Chloe, as the elevator began moving. Beca held her phone up and pretended to scroll through it as she eavesdropped on the redhead's call.

"It's just for one week," Chloe said into the phone.

Beca chanced a quick glance at her elevator riding companion and noticed she was fumbling with folders and files as she held her phone between her shoulder and her ear.

Chloe Beale, age about 26 Beca would guess, moved in next door to Beca about six months ago. Beca thinks Chloe is hot with her red hair, cerulean blue eyes, and a killer body. It was obvious the woman took care of herself.

Beca had introduced herself shortly after Chloe moved in, but Chloe hasn't really shown any interest in anything other than the usual courtesy greeting in the hallway or elevator.

Beca has noticed a lot of people leaving Chloe's apartment over the last six months; usually early in the morning, and none more than once that Beca can recall. Beca was done with one-night stands and meaningless hookups and was looking for something long-lasting and permanent. She thought about asking Chloe out but didn't want to be another one-and-done to Chloe.

"But, everything will be paid for," Chloe said, causing Beca to snap out of her Chloe-induced thoughts.

The elevator reached their floor and Beca waited for Chloe to exit before she did. She smiled as she watched Chloe walk away. I mean, why wouldn't she? Chloe looked just as good walking away as she did coming toward you, and Beca did not mind the view at all.

"I'll even pay for your time if you go," Beca heard Chloe say. Beca shook her head and reached into her bag to pull out her keys. Chloe laughed as she said, "No, not like a hooker. I wouldn't expect sex from you."

Beca gave Chloe a nod as she walked past her to get to her apartment. As Beca stepped over the threshold of her apartment, she looked back and noticed some papers on the floor outside Chloe's already closed door. Beca figured the redhead hadn't noticed them fall. Beca dropped her bag inside her apartment before closing her door and walking over to Chloe's door. She squatted down to pick up the papers.

Once Beca gathered all the papers, she stood and sorted the pages a bit so they were in a neat bundle in her hand. She glanced down at them and they looked like test papers.

"Chloe's a teacher?" Beca mumbled, furrowing her brow.

The apartments they live in cost quite a bit and Beca is surprised. If Chloe is a teacher, how can she afford this place?

Beca shrugged her shoulders and lightly knocked on the door. After a moment, a barefoot Chloe answered.

"Oh," Chloe said, surprised to see Beca standing there. "Um, Beca, right?"

"Yeah. You, um, you dropped these," Beca said as she handed the papers to Chloe.

"Oh, thank you," Chloe said as she took the papers. "That was nice of you."

"Just being neighborly," Beca said with a smile. "Have a good evening."

Beca turned to walk back to her apartment when Chloe stopped her. "Wait!"

Beca turned back and looked at Chloe with a raised eyebrow.

"Would you like to come in for a drink?" Chloe asked.

"Um," Beca said.

"I wanted to apologize," Chloe said, causing Beca's eyebrows to raise in surprise. "I know I haven't been very neighborly and I'm sorry about that."

"Okay, sure," Beca said. "A drink would be nice."

Chloe moved aside to allow Beca to enter. Beca looked around and noticed that Chloe's layout was much the same as hers.

"Come to the kitchen," Chloe said. "Is beer okay?."

"Beer's fine," Beca said and followed Chloe.

"Have a seat," Chloe told Beca, indicating the stools at the counter.

Beca sat and watched as Chloe opened the refrigerator and pulled out two beers. She walked over and sat at the counter across from Beca; she handed Beca a beer.

"I do want to apologize for being so standoffish," Chloe said.

"Um, it's okay," Beca said. "Really."

"No, it's not," Chloe said. "I moved here to get away from my mother. Sad I know, but it's the truth. It gets kind of lonely and you seem like someone I could be friends with, and it would be nice to have at least one friend here."

Beca thought about making a comment about the many "friends" she'd seen leaving Chloe's apartment but thought better of it.

"Do you want to talk about why you had to get away from your mother?" Beca asked as she sipped her beer. "I mean, I get it. I moved mostly to be as far away from my dad as I could. It might make you feel better to talk about it."

"That's a story for another time," Chloe said with a laugh. She took a drink of her beer and looked at Beca. "So, what do you do?"

"I, um, I'm a songwriter and music producer," Beca said.

"That sounds-" Chloe stopped and took a good look at Beca. Her eyes widened and she squealed. "O-M-acaG! You're Beca Mitchell! I've lived next door to you for six months and can't believe I didn't recognize you. I love your music. And that song you wrote with P!nk is one of my favorites."

"Um, thanks," Beca said. "And, what the hell is O-M-acaG?"

Chloe let out a loud laugh. "Sorry. I was in an acapella group in college and Aubrey, my best friend, used to put aca in front of everything. I would tease her about it and then find myself doing it as well."

"Wow," Beca said. "Of all the things I could have imagined, you being in an acapella group was not even a consideration. I mean, it's kind of lame."

"It is not lame," Chloe said, her jaw dropping. "We were the tits and went to the ICCAs our Junior Year."

"What are the ICCAs?"

"It's the National Championships for Collegiate a cappella," Chloe said.

"Ah," Beca said. "So, you went. But, did you win?"

"No, but that doesn't make it lame," Chloe said, taking a sip of her beer and sitting it on the counter. "Let me show you something."

Chloe stood and grabbed her laptop from her desk, returning to sit exceedingly close to Beca at the counter.

"Well, hello," Beca said with a grin, eyeing how close to her Chloe was sitting.

Chloe smirked and opened her laptop. She logged in and clicked on a few things.

"This is our first performance Senior Year," Chloe said before hitting play.

Beca looked toward the computer screen and grimaced slightly. She glanced at Chloe and said, "Did you just get out of flight attendant's school?"

"Hush," Chloe said with a laugh. "Those were our costumes."

"You mean you wore them on purpose?" Beca asked, looking at Chloe wide-eyed.

"It was tradition to wear them," Chloe said with a shrug. "Plus, Aubrey liked them and she was the Captain, so that was that."

Beca nodded her head and listened to the performance. When it was done, Chloe hit pause and looked at Beca.

"It was, um, pretty good," Beca said. "But, your song choice was a bit dated don't you think?"

"I agree with you," Chloe said. "But Aubrey had something to prove so she used the same set we had used the year before."

"Why?" Beca asked, truly curious why they didn't go for something more modern and different.

"Here, I'll show you why," Chloe said and clicked on another video. "This is our ICCAs performance Junior Year."

Chloe hit play and Beca watched.

"Holy shit!" Beca cried out when Aubrey started vomiting. "Oh, my God, that's disgusting."

Chloe stopped the video and looked at Beca. She couldn't help the laugh that came out upon seeing Beca's shocked face.

"How did the rest of your Senior Year go?" Beca asked, closing the laptop so she didn't have to stare at the frozen picture of Aubrey vomiting. It was just gross.

"We made it to Regionals but that was it," Chloe said. "Aubrey was pushing us to the point no one wanted to be a Barden Bella. We were Seniors but the other girls were Freshmen. No one wanted to continue in the group so they disbanded when we graduated."

"That's too bad," Beca said. "You had some really good voices. Especially yours. With the right set, you girls could have won."

"How do you know which voice was mine?" Chloe asked.

"It's my job to know these things," Beca said. "I have to be able to pick out each voice in a group and isolate it. That way, if someone is off-key or hits the wrong note, I know immediately who it is."

"Wow," Chloe said.

Beca went to speak but stopped when her phone pinged indicating a new text had come in. She pulled out her phone and checked the message.

"Oh, shoot," Beca said. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. I'm supposed to meet up with a few friends."

"Oh, that's fine," Chloe said. "I enjoyed talking with you and maybe we can do this again sometime. Or, maybe you'll let me take you out to dinner and we can talk some more."

"I enjoyed talking to you, too," Beca said as she started walking to the door. "As for dinner, can I get back to you on that?"

"Sure," Chloe said as she walked with Beca and held the door for her. Chloe watched as Beca went to her apartment.

"Don't forget to let me know about that dinner date," Chloe said.

"I won't forget," Beca said, giving Chloe a little wave before entering her apartment.

~ BeChloe Week 2021 - Day 6 ~

Later that night, Beca was sitting in her favorite bar with her friends Jessica and Emily. She had told them about finally talking to Chloe and how Chloe had asked her out to dinner.

"So, are you going to go out with her?" Jessica asked.

"I, um, I don't know," Beca said. "I mean, I want to, but all I can think about is all the one-nighters I've seen leaving her apartment. I've done the one-and-done thing. I'm looking for someone who wants to be in a relationship."

"I say go for it," Emily said. "Maybe she'll like you enough to get on the same page as you. I mean look at Stacie; she slept with whoever she wanted and even had a baby out of wedlock. Along comes Jesse and now she's happily married with another kid on the way."

"I think those two are the exception, not the rule," Beca said.

"I'm with Emily," Jessica said. "I think you should go for it. Worst case scenario, you get laid by a gorgeous redhead. Best case, she's looking for a real relationship, too, and you two end up together."

"Things in my life are never that simple," Beca said. "I could really fall for this girl. And, quite honestly, I think I already have. If I feel like this now, one date is just going to make me want to make it something more and not just a one-time thing, so I'm going to tell her no. I think that's best."

"I disagree," Emily said. "But, it's your life. You do you."

~ BeChloe Week 2021 - Day 6 ~

Beca had to work late every night the following week and was surprised to realize that she hadn't seen any one-nighters leaving Chloe's apartment during the week.

It was Friday night, and Beca had Emily, Jessica, and Stacie over for a girl's night. They were sitting around enjoying a glass of wine when there was a knock on the door. Beca excused herself and went to answer the door. She was a bit surprised to see Chloe standing there.

"Oh, um, hey," Beca said, looking back over her shoulder.

"Hey," Chloe said, shifting from one foot to the other. "Do you have a minute? I'd like to talk to you."

"Um," Beca stammered just as the door was pulled fully open by Stacie.

"Let me guess," Stacie said, looking Chloe up and down. "Gorgeous redhead? Rockin' bod? Blue eyes you could get lost in for eternity? You must be Chloe."

"Neighbor Chloe?" Jessica asked, rushing over to the door to get a look at Beca's infamous redheaded neighbor.

"I want to meet her, too," Emily said, following Jessica.

"Do you guys mind?" Beca asked, giving them her best death glare.

Chloe stood there smiling. "You've been talking about me, huh?"

"Maybe a little," Beca said, blushing.

"A little?" Stacie snorted. "How about every waking moment. You should come in and join us."

"I don't want to intrude," Chloe said.

"You're not intruding," Jessica said, turning to look at Beca. "Tell her, Beca."

Beca sighed and looked at Chloe. "It's okay. You're not intruding. Besides, I owe you a drink."

"Thank you," Chloe said as she entered the apartment. "You also owe me an answer to that dinner date I asked you for."

"Date?!" Stacie squealed. "You and Beca are dating? Why am I the last to know this?"

"Not dating, Stacie," Beca said, glaring at Stacie.

"That's only because she hasn't said yes yet," Emily said.

"Don't worry," Jessica said. "She will."

"She'd better," Stacie said.

"She's right here," Beca said.

"So, does that mean you'll go out with me?" Chloe asked.

"Can we talk out in the hall?" Beca asked.

"Sure," Chloe said and turned to walk out the door.

Beca followed Chloe out and turned back to look at her friends who were all moving to follow them.

"Stay!"

"Rude!" Stacie said as Beca closed the door behind her.

"Sorry about them," Beca said as she stood facing Chloe. "Look, about dinner. Thank you for the invitation but, I'm, uh, I'm going to have to decline."

"May I ask why?" Chloe said. "I thought we had a connection."

"We did, do," Beca said. "Honestly, I like you, Chloe, but I'm not looking for a one-night stand or a hookup. I'm done with that sort of thing."

"And?"

"And, I don't want to be just another notch on your bedpost," Beca said. "I'm not that girl." Beca sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I know we just met but I would want something more with you."

"What if I said I wanted something more with you, too?" Choe asked, moving a step closer to Beca.

"Are you saying that?"

Chloe put her hands on Beca's hips and pulled her flush to her. Beca let out a small gasp when their bodies clashed together.

"What I'm saying is. ."

The rest of Chloe's words were lost when her lips crashed against Beca's. Beca whimpered and put her arms around Chloe's neck. They battled for dominance, only jumping apart when Beca's apartment door flew open.

"I told you they were kissing," Stacie said with a smug smile.

"Go away," Beca said, making a shooing motion with her hands.

Beca pulled Chloe back to her and reclaimed Chloe's lips. If it were possible, Chloe pulled Beca even closer.

Emily blushed and stepped around them, hurrying down the hall. Stacie stood there watching as Beca and Chloe continued to kiss. Jessica grabbed Stacie by the arm and pulled her away and down the hall.

"I want all the details tomorrow, Mitchell," Stacie called back over her shoulder as Jessica maintained her hold on Stacie's arm to keep her moving.

Chloe finally pulled back from the kiss.

"Wow," Chloe said, touching her forehead to Beca's.

"Wow, indeed," Beca said. She cleared her throat. "Would you like to come in? I think I'd like to be that girl tonight."

Chloe's smile widened as Beca took her hand and led her into her apartment, slamming the door behind them.

[twisted-imagines]

Heyo! May I request headcanons for how Leona and Azul would react to their respective SO being unassumingly strong? Like they look like they possess average strength but they are able to carry a lot of heavy things (easily the dorm leaders) or hold their own in a physical fight. I hope this makes sense 😅😅😅

Unbelievable, I'm back! With a request, nonetheless💖 I wonder if you missed me, hehe? Man, did I miss you all and my precious boys~ It's shorter than usually and I got hit with a writer's block, but it'll try to pick up my pace from now on >:3

But for now, please, enjoy💗

Unassumingly strong S/O

Leona Kingscholar 🦁

Rays of sunset gently caressing his face woke Leona up from his post-lunch nap. Still groggy from his sleep he rose up just to look at the clock. Almost evening, the last classes in college ended at least two hours ago. But that wasn't important to Leona. What really bothered him, was the absence of one customary part of his sleeping routine: your warm form beside his. To have you curled up into his side or just sitting near him telling about your day always made his dreams more pleasant and now that he got used to it, not having you beside him rubbed him the wrong way. You should have already been there, so where were you? The lion didn't want to think about the worst, but only the most alarming conclusions came to his mind. The bed shifted beneath him when he got up, but before he could even take a step a loud stomping resonating in the hallway drew his attention. Ruggie was at his doorstep, disheveled, and clearly agitated.

"Leona-san! You need to see this, come. Quick!"

Leona could finally let out the breath he took when Ruggie rushed him out of his room and to the common room. Several students were running to-and-fro around the other three beat-up Savanaclaw residents. The dorm leader stopped at the door, relieved to not had seen you there. And why would you be there, though? Nonsense. But it was really the only thing he was worried about since the sight before him was all too common for Leona at that point. He was about to turn to Ruggie and ask what all that fuss was about until a conversation between couch occupant and the students treating him reached his ears.

"Ouch! That hurts, man! Ugh, if not that piece of-!"

"Don't even think about ending that sentence. You're lucky that it wasn't the dorm leader who got his hands on you."

"Yes, dumbass, can you even imagine what would have happened to you three if he found out you fought his mate- Wha? Huh?! Leona-san? Since when did you-"

Leona crossed the room in a few powerful strides only to pick the unfortunate student by his collar. An unbridled fury grimaced his face.

"What's about [Y/n]? Tell me, your puny life depends on it!“

"Nishishishi, what can he even tell? That he and his thick-headed friends got completely obliterated by a single, small human?"

"Listen, I'm very sorry about it, but it was just self-defense!"

Leona dropped the scared, shaking from fear student to the floor in favor of rushing to your self, who too entered the room. He swiftly checked you for any injury and let out a relieved sigh. From what he could see you were completely fine, while those who harassed you were very much not, trembling and holding each other, bruised and humiliated. Kingscholar could only look bewildered at them, and then at you, at them, at you.

"Leona, I'm really sorry, I didn't want to hurt them so bad."

Your ramble became faster the more your boyfriend looked at you with a blank look, not even saying a word to you.

"...so if there's some disciplinary punishment or otherwise or will take it, I-"

A snicker interrupted your speech. You looked at the man before you stunned. Before you could utter even another word he erupted in a fit of roaring laughter, it resonating in a completely silent dorm.

• Ah, Leona can't genuinely remember when was the last time he laughed that hard. The whole situation is so amusing to him, there isn't't a boring day with you, is there?

• Of course, you'll face no punishment, vice versa, you'll be celebrated. His darling, his kitten, was actually a mighty carnivore all along. He's going to mark the day, when he finally found out about that.

• Never would he think, not a snowballs chance in hell, that you had any physical strength in you, but you managed to prove him wrong. Yes, he was very close to destroying poor souls who tried to harass you, but if not for them taunting you and being beat up in the process, he wouldn't have such a discovery to laugh at. They're getting away with it, a living example of why exactly one ought to not touch dorm leader's lover. They're not dining with everybody that evening though, no matter how much tasty food there is.

• He doesn't think a lot about this discovery at first, that's just another gimmick of yours and he loves it, he loves you, but does it turn his world upside down, both figuratively and literally, when you, fed up with him lazing around the greenhouse and trying to make you lie down with him, swing him over your shoulder and carry him out. His pupils are just two saucers. He hangs speechless from your shoulder and until he feels ground under his legs he doesn't register what happened.

• Congratulations, now you have Leona Kingscholar living in your arms. He'll just use you as a personal carriage and how can you deny him, when he's so cutely snuggling up to you. Oh, he knows what he does to you and isn't ashamed to take advantage of it.

• He's quite pleased to know that you can hold your own in a physical fight, even in a magical world they're still too common. He even starts to watch himself, especially when he thinks he went too far with his teasing since you do have a strength to turn it on him. Well, he doesn't really protest. A bit of roughhousing and a tickle fight never harmed anybody, it amuses Leona when you start them.

• He admires you more than anybody else at this point. You're badass and you know it, and he couldn't be more proud. He sleeps soundly, knowing that you can stand up for yourself if the situation calls for it. He still much prefers to have you safe in his arms, or vice versa, so don't leave him for longer, than you should.

• One time he just casually asked you, if you could wield any weapon with a very unsettling glint in his eyes. He told you that a lot of people in Afterglow Savannah were proficient in some war art, it was a very respected tradition, and some of the masters could teach you, if you visited his homeland with him. He left the question open, but sometimes you still wonder what did he actually mean?

Azul Ashengrotto 🐙

Night Raven College was in a state of emergency. All students were to follow their seniors to a safe location, while teachers and student council were dealing with the threat. The reason for such a panic was a single creature. Highly dangerous at its full potential and untamable, college's Chimera was much less imposing than it's wild nature sisters, but still a difficult opponent for students at their Magic Defense classes. Apparently this time it decided to give a special lesson to everybody.

"The beast ran in that direction, don't let it get away once again, surround and subdue it!"

Azul's order rang in the hallway, spurring every present student to action. At the state of total disarray, the youth was the only one who reacted fast enough to rally his fellow students and direct them properly. But to say the hunt was going awfully is to say nothing. The students, so much for them being skilled at magic, had no idea of command work. Ashengrotto had already regretted sending Leech twins away with Octavinelle juniors, it would have ended so much faster if they were present. But alas, after running around the campus for more than half an hour, Azul could finally hope they would catch the damned beast at last.

"It's running away, catch it! Why are you standing still?"

"Can you not complain for five seconds, pretty boy? Want me to fix your make up with my fists for you?"

"The Chimera is resisting magical attacks, somebody please sacrifice yourself for the greater good. We need to neutralize it!"

No, they were hopeless. Azul could only observe the people he saw daily at college lose all respect he had for them in less than an hour. Azul was genuinely contemplating to just give up and let the teachers, who got lost halfway too somehow, handle it. At that point he wasn't even chasing it, disappointedly watching how it was running away into the sunset.

Until it suddenly didn't. Chimera crashed with a loud thud, falling to the floor completely motionless. And the one who was standing above it with a bright red crowbar was none other than you. Shocked, he slowly approached you and the unconscious animal.

"Um... [Name]?"

"Sup' Azul! You were late for our date so I returned to check up on you. This Chimera is so big! It's the first time I've seen it. Where should we carry it?"

"Yes, yes...You'll still meet it at your Magic Defense classes later the semester. To the classroom on the third floor, let me-"

Before Azul could lift it with magic you had already hoisted it on your shoulder and awaited for his lead.

Well, it was certainly a dream so he didn't have to freak out, right? His dear significant other couldn't possibly knock out a huge beast in one punch?

• Wrong. You did. You also had enough strength to carry it to its cage. You could do even more than that. The more Azul was coming to the understanding of it, the more he was freaking out. Until he completely stopped responding to you. The date had to be canceled, unfortunately. You led him to his dorm, while he was having an identity crisis.

• When he finally snaps out of his state you're so going to be bombarded with questions. They won't stop, and you're not even sure he addresses them to you. How did you hide it and why? Or was he just oblivious? But you look so demure, look at Jack for example and look at you! How?

"Well, I'm pretty soft, but here touch - there muscles underneath!"

He's now more lost than before, after making contact with your bare skin.

• It's going to take him time to come to terms with your actual strength. Lack of magic not equating to being powerless didn't register in his brain, and he thought it was actually very ignorant of him. He respected you before, but now he's in awe. His significant other is very strong and Azul thinks it's beautiful.

• When he has too much work and is stubborn about cramming it all into one day, even though he's already drooling on his notes and slips down his chair, you just lift him from his seat and parade through Monstro Lounge to his room with Azul blushing madly in your arms. Leech twins think it's the most hilarious thing they've ever seen. Azul is very embarrassed, but it also feels so good to be carried around by you, he feels the most special man in the world. He politely asks you to not handle him like that ever again, while he clings to you like a baby koala. It's obvious where he wants to be.

• He has a love-hate attitude to manhandling. It certainly feels exciting when you tug him on your lap if he's passing by, or envelop him in a hug if you're happy, but he's also quite shy about it, especially if there're people around you. Sometimes he wants just to find a pot big enough to hide.

• He likes your way of solving problems. You don't have to choose the best spells that would give you an advantage against a certain opponent, neither do you have to worry about things like mana and blot. You can only rely on yourself in a fight. He wheezed when you suggested, that Floyd wouldn't be a dangerous opponent to you since his unique magic wouldn't deflect a punch to the face. Floyd wasn't impressed with that logic, but he kept quiet.

• Azul is quite pacifistic, if he can mitigate the conflict and reach a consensus that would benefit every party, mostly him, he will try to avoid a fight. But when even he can't do this, you enter the picture. You know that those jerks are too arrogant and they should be prescribed a nice, educating blow to a face. Azul is mortified, when you escalate things, for he usually doesn't see such scenes, Floyd or even sometimes Jade leave them offstage. He quickly comes to his senses though and helps you out. Best believe you're going to get away with it, and even will be treated as a victim. Who in their right mind will think that you, of all people, can deal any serious damage to anybody?

• He feels a bit weird when you're the one carrying his shopping bags, or screwing the jars open, but he learns to roll with it, even starts to enjoy it. And his face when he sees you carrying a huge table all on your own, because he just so mentioned, that he didn't like how it stood in the Lounge? Priceless.

• No matter how much time passes he'll still react surprised when he sees you displaying your power, but it's also one of the qualities he loves about you. Azul treats your unusual strength as your special appeal and couldn't be more proud to be your lover.

• He's ecstatic that he can just casually mention to anybody picking on him, that "his significant other can and will snap you in half". Maybe you can, maybe you can not, but you just let him have his fun. The truth is that you will do your best at any given time to protect your boyfriend.

[searchingwardrobes]

Not the Type: 5/7

The muse has awakened! I feel awful for keeping ya'll waiting so long (5 months? seriously?!) for an update on this fic. I actually decided to split this chapter up once it reached 2k because I didn't want you waiting any longer for another chapter. So, this will now be 7 chapters plus an epilogue. Much thanks to my beta @hookedonapirate​ for untangling my awkward wording and making me sound so much better! You have a way of getting what I'm trying to say and making it flow. What would I do without you? Thanks to the @captainswanmoviemarathon​ mods for being so patient and understanding when I had to put this on the back burner. And finally, thank you to my dear friend @snowbellewells​ for helping me get the muse kickstarted again on this fic. You rock!

Oh, and fun fact: The part in this chapter about Ruby’s cheer injury really happened - to me when I was a cheerleader long, long ago . . .

Summary: Emma Swan first notices him in the stands at the Friday night football game. She can tell right away Killian Jones is not the football type. Then again, she’s not the cheerleader type either, but here she is with pom poms. Life hasn’t ever gone the way Emma planned. Lately, that’s actually been a good thing. Maybe Killian Jones is a good thing, too.

My loose Captain Swan AU of the movie Bring it On

Rating: T

Also on Ao3

Tagging: @snowbellewells @whimsicallyenchantedrose @kmomof4 @xhookswenchx @let-it-raines @bethacaciakay @tiganasummertree @shireness-says @stahlop @scientificapricot @spartanguard @welllpthisishappening @resident-of-storybrooke @thislassishooked @ilovemesomekillianjones @kday426 @ekr032-blog-blog @lfh1226-linda @ultraluckycatnd @nikkiemms @optomisticgirl @profdanglaisstuff @ohmakemeahercules @carpedzem @branlovestowrite @superchocovian @sherlockwhovian​ @hollyethecurious @vvbooklady1256 @winterbaby89 @delirious-latenight-laughs @jennjenn615 @snidgetsafan @itsfabianadocarmo @lassluna

Chapter Five

“You’ve got to let go of me for one second,” Emma giggled, her tone and the fact that she was simultaneously wrapping her free arm tighter around Killian’s waist completely contradicting her words.

“Do as I say, not as I do, hm?”

“I’m trying to get the mail!”

“So?”

“So you’re kissing my neck.”

“Hm, so I am.”

He flashed her a dazzling smile, his blue eyes slightly dazed, like he was drunk on love or something. Love? Emma wriggled free of his embrace as the word penetrated her lust filled, teenage brain. They couldn’t be in love or anything like that. This wasn’t a 90's rom com or something.

Killian was unfazed by her sudden distance, his hands still finding purchase on her elbow and hip; her hair still tickling his nose and mouth. She reached into the mailbox, pulled out an unusually thick stack and started flipping through it as Killian snaked his arms around her waist from behind and propped his chin on her shoulder. Emma wasn’t surprised to see college brochures; they had begun coming with increasing regularity now that she and her brother were juniors. One white envelope with blue writing gave her pause, however. It was addressed to her, and this was no brochure. It was a very official looking letter. Emma’s hands trembled as she tore it open.

“What is it?” Killian mumbled the question, far more interested in her neck at the moment.

Emma scanned the contents of the letter, and the more the words sank in, the more she trembled. So much so that the rest of the mail went fluttering to the sidewalk. Killian was finally pulled away from his obsession with her neck and spoke his next question with deep concern.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah . . . I, um,” she swallowed hard as conflicting emotions swirled in her brain. “The University of Kentucky is interested in recruiting me for their cheerleading squad.”

“That’s amazing, Swan!”

“You have no idea,” Emma said softly as she sank down onto the front step of her apartment building.

Killian gathered up the rest of the mail, then came and sat next to her. “Then continue in my cheerleading education, love.”

Emma chuckled, though she was also touched by the obvious interest he held in her pursuits, even if they weren’t necessarily in line with his.

“UK has the best cheer program in the country,” Emma explained. “They’ve won an insane number of national titles, probably more than any other college. You don’t just make the squad, you get a full ride. They’re that good.”

Killian lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “See? I knew you were bloody brilliant.”

Emma returned his bright smile with a shaky one of her own. “You’re so sweet.”

“You’re not excited about this?”

Emma bit her lip, staring at the letter in her hands until the words started to blur together. “I am. It’s just . . . this means they’ll be sending recruiters to our competitions. That’s a lot of pressure.”

“I’m sure you’ll rise to the occasion.”

Emma’s lips lifted in a half-hearted smile. Her head collapsed onto his shoulder, and he brushed his lips against her forehead.

“A full ride . . . “

She let the thought fade into the air. How could she screw up an offer like this? It would help Ruth out so much, and her brother, too.

Yeah, no pressure.

*******************************************************

“Hey, Em!”

One of Ruby’s dirty socks bounced off Emma’s head and landed in her lap. With a disgusted grumble, she batted it to the floor.

“Rubes, that’s gross!”

“Well, you’re sitting there, staring into space. Don’t tell me you’re suddenly embarrassed to put that thing on in front of everybody.”

Emma looked down at the sports bra still clutched in her right hand. They all learned early on that there was no modest way to squeeze your boobs into a sports bra, so the squad basically had to get real comfortable around each other real fast. And contrary to every teen movie ever made, there was nothing sexy about it. It was just athletes being a team in the locker room.

You know, like male athletes.

“Oh God, she’s contemplating sexism in sports again,” Ariel groaned.

“She is!” crowed Ruby. “Look how she’s staring at that sports bra!”

“You mean this torture device?” Emma quipped, waving the garment in the air like a feminist about to burn something.

“She isn’t wrong,” Mary Margaret put in.

“Well, I for one am thankful for the torture device,” Jasmine piped up.

“Here we go again,” groaned Tiana.

“It’s true!” Jasmine cried out. “I don’t want the girls flopping around. It hurts!”

“While this discussion is incredibly enlightening,” a voice said dryly from the doorway, “I’d prefer we start running our competition routine, if you ladies don’t mind.”

They all mumbled apologies to Coach Ava, along with promises to get out of the locker room as quickly as possible. Emma shed her blouse and regular bra, then struggled her way into her sports bra before slipping a cheer camp t-shirt over her head. She paused before one of the cracked mirrors that hung above a row of ancient porcelain sinks that dated back to the 1950s. Being a girls’ team that didn’t really bring in any ticket sales, the cheerleading squad was relegated to practicing in the old gym. It could've been worse, however. The seniors remembered their freshman year, before the new gym was built, when the cheerleaders were forced to practice in the atrium at the front of the school. The atrium was great for painting bust-throughs, but Emma couldn’t imagine having to practice there.

As Emma tugged her hair into a messy ponytail, she thought of the letter she had shoved in the front pocket of her backpack. She'd planned on showing it to Ruby and Mary Margaret, but for some reason, she'd lost her nerve. She sighed as she made her way out of the locker room. Letter or no letter, she had to get her head on straight.

As usual, the girls started off running a mile around the gym, and just like every other practice, Emma started off keeping pace with Ruby and Mary Margaret. Her mind was still a million miles away, however.

In Kentucky, she supposed. The bluegrass state. Was the grass really blue? I mean, it couldn’t be. How can grass be blue?

“Hey,” Ruby panted, leaning over her knees when the run was over, “what’s with you?”

“What’s what?”

Emma’s brow furrowed as she did a calf stretch. She was always getting charley horses in the middle of the night during competition season. Ruth kept bugging her to eat a banana every day, but she despised bananas. They were so mushy . . .

“Earth to Emma,” Mary Margaret laughed.

Ruby snapped her fingers in Emma’s face.

“What happened to the Emma we know and love?” she asked. “You know, the one who leaves us in the dust every practice, laughing her ass off the whole way?”

“It’s not my fault you two do a leisurely jog instead of a run.”

“Running is what you do when you’re being chased,” Mary Margaret countered. It was her usual argument.

Ruby narrowed her eyes at Emma. “You’re avoiding my question.”

“Lunges, girls, across the gym floor!” shouted Coach Ava, saving Emma from responding. She lined up with the rest of the squad along one side of the gym, then stepped forward with her right leg, her hands on her hips.

“Is it Killian?” Ruby hissed at her left.

“No!”

“Just drop it,” Mary Margaret snapped.

“Yeah,” Emma grunted as she lowered herself into another lunge, “it’s kinda hard to talk and do these at the same time.”

“Tiana, I wanna see a right angle on those lunges!” their coach called out. “Ruby, you might be able to keep your balance if you stop exercising your mouth!”

Emma laughed loudly as Ruby wobbled and almost went down. “Yeah, Rubes, I’d concentrate if I were you.”

And just to rub her friend’s face in it, Emma sped up her lunges, reaching the other side of the gym first.

“Excellent job,” Coach Ava praised her. “Smooth, with speed, and you didn’t lose your form.”

Ruby practically growled when Emma threw a smirk her way.

They did a few more drills, warmed up their tumbling with a few simple passes, then gathered on the mats to go through their routine. Coach Ava was still making a few simple changes, but for the most part, it was now all about committing it to muscle memory. They needed to be able to practically do the routine in their sleep by the time December rolled around. And that was only five weeks away.

The girls got into position, and the music started. They were opening with a tumbling peel off. The girls in the front did a standing back handspring, the girls in the middle a standing back tuck, and then . . .

Emma got to shine as she kept going. Out of a standing back tuck, into two back handsprings, and then finally into a full twisting double back as the music crescendoed. Usually, Emma’s adrenaline had her ending the pass with a huge smile on her face, but today she under-rotated and almost landed flat on her face. She tried to shake it off, but in the team’s first pyramid, she started to lose her balance, almost taking the rest of the team down with her. Emma chastised herself to get it together as her stunt group moved into position for their next stunt - a twist up

Their “theme” this year was hair. They whipped their ponytails a lot in the dance portion, and every song had to do with hair. In the next stunt, Emma had to pull up on her ponytail while she twisted up into an arabesque, as if she was pulling herself up by her hair.

It was a little like patting her head and rubbing her stomach at the same time, which was incredibly frustrating to Emma. The stupid hair pull was supposed to be a cool bit of choreography, not rocket science. Yet, once again, Emma seemed to get her arms, her long hair, and her legs tangled into a mass as she twisted upward. What happened next, Emma was never entirely sure. Ruby yelled, Emma felt herself tilting sideways and she panicked, making a rookie mistake - she attempted to jump down from the stunt. Her fist was still gripped in her hair, which she almost yanked out in the fall, and she kicked her spotter away - another rookie mistake. Thankfully, Coach Ava was able to dart forward in time to catch Emma. Behind her, she heard what she swore were skulls crashing together.

It was a pretty accurate description.

Ruby was swearing loudly as she clutched her chin. A little blood seeped between her fingers. Ashley covered her mouth with both hands, and Emma was alarmed to see a lot of blood rolling down the blonde’s chin and staining her shirt. Ava abandoned Emma to check on the two bases, barking at Mary Margaret to run and get the first aid kid.

Emma felt like the worst human being in the world. She clutched at her middle and kept whispering “I’m so sorry” over and over again, but no one paid her any attention.

Ava cleaned up the blood pouring from Ashley’s mouth enough to ascertain that all of her teeth were still intact. She just had a busted lip, something many of them had endured in the past. It was crazy how badly a mouth injury bled. As for Ruby, she didn't even need a band-aid once the blood was cleaned away with an antiseptic wipe.

“Watch it carefully for infection,” Coach Ava advised.

“Why?” Ruby asked with a furrowed brow.

Ava winced slightly before reluctantly explaining. “They're bite marks. Ashley’s teeth collided with your chin.”

“WHAT??” Ruby screeched.

The rest of the squad crowded around to see as Coach Ava tilted Ruby’s chin up for a better look. Sure enough, there were two teeth-shaped puncture marks, like she’d been attacked by a wild animal. Practically growling in irritation, Ruby shoved her teammates aside and rushed to the locker room for a better look.

Ruby’s scream moments later had all of the girls collapsing with laughter.

“Well,” Ava sighed, “I suppose we’re taking a little break before we run the routine again.”

*************************************************

“So Ruby has bite marks on her chin?”

Emma snort-laughed through her nose at the look on Killian’s face. “Yep. And the rumors about how she got them get more and more unbelievable as the day goes by.”

Killian rolled his eyes before taking a bite of his sandwich. “Bloody gits”

It was too cold now to sit under the trees in the school courtyard, so she and Killian were tucked into a hidden corner in the school atrium. They had to whisper, though, because sounds reverberated against the domed ceiling. Emma couldn’t imagine cheering in this space. How did the seniors not go deaf?

“It’s not really a sexy place for bite marks though,” Emma said as she licked Cheeto powder off her fingers.

“Yeah, I can think of far kinkier places.”

She smacked him in the chest as he waggled his eyebrows at her. She wanted to be indignant at his innuendo, but instead her cheeks burned as her mind plunged straight into the gutter. She already knew a little bit of what Killian could do with his teeth . . .

“Sorry,” he apologized, shifting gears faster than she would have thought possible, “I don’t mean to be an idiot like all the rest.”

Killian blushed and scratched behind his ear. She practically melted at the way he could so swiftly go from irrepressible flirt to sweet boyfriend. She leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.

Emma crumpled up the Cheeto bag and stuffed it into her lunch bag. She handed the wad of trash to her boyfriend sweetly, batting her lashes exaggeratedly. Killian took her trash, chuckling as he stood up.

“You don’t have to use doe eyes to get me to do things for you,” he told her before walking to the trash can beside the front doors.

“I don’t?”

“Never,” he answered as he returned to her side. He sat back down on the floor, his back against the wall, and pulled her snug against his chest.

“So you’ll just wait on me hand and foot?”

“Like the princess you are.”

“Wow, I should really take more advantage of how whipped you are,” she joked.

Killian retaliated by tickling her in the ribs. She wriggled and laughed, but made no attempt to pull away from him. She glanced around, saw no adults, and then pressed her lips to his.

He kissed her back, sliding a hand into her hair. They kept it brief, not wanting to get caught. Storybrooke High gave demerits for PDA. Emma was tempted to just take the demerits so she could kiss her boyfriend thoroughly, but Coach Ava would pull her from the competition line up if she got one more demerit. So Emma just sighed and snuggled against Killian’s chest. He began to idly play with her hair.

“How many demerits do you get for PDA?”

Emma craned her neck to look at him. “How did you know I was thinking that?”

He grinned down at her rakishly. “I didn’t. But how many?”

Emma frowned. “It’s not bad, but it’s still too many for me. I’ve already gotten five demerits and six will get me cut from competition.”

“Scandalous. How did you get five demerits, love?”

Emma grumbled as she shoved a stray hair out of her eyes. “The first two I got because I argued with Mr. Gold about a paper he unfairly gave me a C- on. Then he wrote me up just for questioning him about it!”

“The bastard. And the other three?”

“That was me being stupid. I used the vending machine after noon.”

Killian’s laughter shook his chest, making Emma smile.

“That’s a stupid rule anyway.”

“I know, right? I forgot my lunch!” Emma tightened her arms around Killian. “Principal Mills did let me keep the chips, though.”

They were silent for a moment. Killian was still playing with her hair. She felt him take a deep breath and release it.

“Have you told the squad yet? About UK?”

Emma sighed. She figured he would ask her this eventually. “I will.”

“Emma -”

“I will.” She knew she needed to. Her friends could tell something was off, and she couldn’t afford to be distracted at any more practices.

Or any competitions.

Of course, if she screwed up this badly at a competition, The University of Kentucky might change their minds.

[pearl-blue-musings]

Hi, yes, um..

May I please have a steak mediun well with some fries and broccoli? I know this is odd but can you douse my steak in some Soy Sauce? (Sero?)

Oh yes yes yes I can in this house we love soy sauce on our steak

I’m sorry it’s not as long as some of the other requests

Pairing: Sero Hanta x fem!reader let’s smoke and forget our feelings unless??

Warnings: drug use, fluff, angst, mentions of blood, mentions of death, some bad use of Spanish endearment (my sky, my sweetheart, my love, my heart) 

Enjoy your meal~

~~~~~~~~~

The last few years of your life seemed to pass by quickly. You hadn’t thought that college would have the major impact on your way of being until it was almost over and you were thinking of your future. Rather, who would potentially be there with you in your future.

Shutting down your laptop, you stretch your arms above your head and pick up your phone.  Your senior thesis was finally done and you had emailed it to your professor, and you grunt at the task being done. A project that had taken you months was finally completed and you’reone step closer to graduating. You spot a text message from your best friend and one person you figured would be in your future. Sero Hanta has been in your life for as long as you could remember, but you didn’t become close with him until you began university. The lanky boy, no man, had weaved his way in and out of your life for years and now it seems that he might be tying up the strings.  

His text, as per usual on Sundays, asked if you were free to chill and light up. You smiled and responded eagerly, knowing that this is for sure the thing you need to relax after all your hard work. The phone buzzes with a confirmation from Sero and you begin to get ready to leave. Most of the time, you end up staying the night so you pack an overnight bag and your laptop, incase you have to do any correspondence.

The drive to Sero’s apartment is short but enjoyable. The weather outside starts to shift from winter to spring, flowers blooming and the sound of buzzing insects has returned. You really do love U.A. university in the spring, you’re upset you graduate in a few weeks so you’ll have to enjoy it as much as you can while you’re here. Although certain parts of your future are set, you can’t help if you’ll be lonely in your post college endeavors.

Once you’ve parked your car, you walk up to the already unlocked apartment, up two flights of stairs and the third one to your left. You know everything about his space and his roommates, but it seems to be just him in the apartment as his friends all have other plans.

You don’t have to make yourself known as you enter, already slipping on your special house slippers. With your bag in tow, you head straight for Sero’s room. Upon opening the door, you see he’s spread and rearranged things to accommodate his three-person hammock.  He usually does this when it’s just the two of you smoking, making it more intimate. The setting sun outside lights the room with a special glow, adding to the ambiance of the young man’s room.

“Mi dulzara, how are you? Finished your thesis right?”

You fight the heat coming to your cheeks at the term of endearment and slowly nod. Sero cheekily smiles at you and finishes rolling the joint you’re no doubt going to share. “I got this from Shinsou and Denki, so you know it’s the good shit, bebe.”

You can’t help but chuckle at his expression. You also do your best to ignore the way his hands look working the drug into the paper and how his fingers flit with the collar of his shirt. You slap your cheeks in attempt to stop your mind from wandering. He’s your friend, your best friend and you shouldn’t think of him in any other capacity. And besides, he for sure doesn’t have feelings for you. Nope, not at all.

You don’t realize that his eyes never left your visage, doing his best to keep his giggles to himself as he notices you slap yourself. He shakes his head and slides into the hammock. Arms open wide, he waits for you to catch him in his impatient pose.

“Stop overthinking and come here, that’s what you’re here for, mi cielito.” You turn yourself toward him and grin at him and his childish antics. Sero always knew how to take you out of your mind. You make your way to the hammock and sit yourself down, adjusting to the weight distribution of it. Once comfortable, you inch closer to Sero’s body and lean into his chest. His arms secure themselves around you possessively. You feel him breathe deeply and that action itself is almost enough to lull you to sleep.

His arms adjust slightly so he can reach the lighter on the window sill to light the joint in his teeth. For better access he lets the lighter fall near his lap so he doesn’t have to reach too far and disturb you too much. The way you fit so well in his arms, how comfortable he is around you to be himself, to truly be himself is a feeling he isn’t willing to give up any time soon. Sero is aware you have job offers lined up after you two graduate and he doesn’t want to hold you back but… He’d be an idiot to at least not try to make things work out. And now that your life has calmed down slightly, he thinks he’ll finally tell you.

Sero passes you the joint after he feels the smoke enter his lungs, good feelings happening all over. Once you take it, you inhale deeply wanting to feel the immediate effects in order to really relax. When you exhale, you hand the joint back to the man you’re cuddling and play with his fingers hovering near your face. His fingers always felt nice, and so did his palms. Sometimes you two would hold hands but it never went beyond that. Is that what you wanted? Is that what he wanted?

“(Y/n), cielo, what’s on your mind?”

You feel his breathe skate across your nose, almost forgetting how close you two were. The hand you’re holding grabs yours and rubs comforting circles on the back of it. You sigh and ease more into his touch. “The future.”

“A scary place.”

“But does it have to be?” You turn up to face him and the way the sun is hitting him makes the man in front of you look ethereal. Almost like he doesn’t belong to this plane of being. You’re struck dumb for a couple seconds as you’re caught in his gaze. You hadn’t realized your breath had gotten shallower until his face is inches from yours in concern.

“Are you okay? Anything I can help with, well other than sharing my hard earned weed with you?” That makes you laugh. Just being able to make you laugh with your mind full is rewarding. Knowing that he’s the one making you feel better increases his heartbeat. The way your eyes look right now, the lights in his room, the soft music playing, he’s starting to realize that this is the moment, his moment. He scavenges for the lighter, and goes for another hit.

When he releases the smoke away from you he pulls you close. You start to clear your throat to formulate the right words. “Hanta, I’m scared.” You see his gaze shift to one of confusion. “I’m scared, of this ending.”

He passes you the still lit joint and waits for you the breathe in before responding. “You mean our friendship? I’ll always be your friend, (Y/n). You know that.”

You shake your head. “No, not that…” you trail off, feeling more and more embarrassed, “I mean, when we leave here we won’t be near each other.” You want to hide your face but since you’re in a hammock, you bury your face in his chest.

“Mi amor.” His voice is low as he puts the lighter and joint on the window sill. He takes your chin in his thumb and forefinger, forcing you to look at him. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here.”

The tip of his thumb barely traces your bottom lip. Maybe it’s the drugs but you want to blurt out what’s on your mind right now.

“I love you, don’t you know? You’re the only one I can and want to do this with.”

You weren’t expecting him to cut you off. “What?” you breathe out. There’s no way he does, right? This has to be a mistake. It’s the drugs, yeah that’s it. “Hanta, it’s the drugs you don’t mean that.”

Sero leans in slowly, his lips grazing yours and the feel of his breath across your lips sends shivers up your spine. “Yes I do, corazon. I’ve loved you for so long.” He closes the distance and kisses you, tongue exploring yours. You kiss him back in earnest, reveling in the feeling of his lips on yours. You breakaway to breathe and all you can see and feel is Hanta.

His hand rests on your hip comfortably as you two just stare at each other. Finding your voice, you declare, “I love you too Hanta. I’m not sure how long though.”

He chuckles and kisses the edge of your mouth, “the amount of time doesn’t matter, mi amor. I just know that I want to be around you all the time. Wherever you go, I go.” He tangles your legs together as you snuggle back into him, his head on top of yours.

“You’re stuck with me. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You’re stuck with me. I’m not going anywhere.”

Those words repeated like a mantra in your head as you lay on the ground. The spring rain and bellowing of sirens blares around you, making your thoughts and head more clouded. What had happened? What was going on? Why can’t your body move? Your eyes drag to the puddle next to you mixed with rain water and something else. Blood?

Oh right.

You’re dying.

That’s right.

Suddenly it hurts to breathe as you cough up blood. Words of people around you blur as you look for anything, anyone, familiar in this cloud of strangeness. What had you been doing? 

Oh right.

Picking up food for you and Hanta for the week.

You had been promoted and he had a surprise in store for you on your way back home. Has he texted you or called? You’re not sure as you can’t feel much of anything. That car had come out of nowhere, ignoring the rules of the road. You were so happy to find a place that was within walking distance of your job and necessities. But it all seems pointless now.

Tears begin to fall from your eyes as paramedics just now get to your body, asking you questions but nothing registers. A crowd forms and you wonder if Hanta is warm in your apartment. Is Hanta aware? Is he okay? Will he be able to eat for the week? How will he survive without you?

Oh god you’re dying.

And now the tears fall faster as your heartbeat slows. The nurses try to help you, but you do manage to hear “too much blood loss” and “broken bones”. Will Hanta be okay? Will Hanta be okay? Will Hanta be okay?

“(Y/n)!!”

His voice, clear as day breaks through. You wonder if it’s all a dream, is he the light they tell you to avoid? You want to go to it. You see him clearly, fighting the police lines and medics barring him from entering the crime scene. You’ve never seen him cry and you never want to see it again. You want to comfort him, tell him it’s all okay. Where’s his umbrella? He’s going to get sick. You raise your arm toward him, but that takes the last bit of strength you had keeping you in this realm. 

The last thing you hear are his wails of pain as he feels the strings connecting you both being aggressively pulled apart, as the medics on scene cover your body.

~~~~~~~

I’m sorry 

The diner is open

[everybodyscupoftea]

going nowhere

college isaac x reader

a snowstorm and a chill day

(warnings: cursing, google docs edited this)

You woke up before Isaac by a few minutes, shifting closer in his arms. The room was cold, and he was warm, hogging most of the blankets pinned between his arm and the bed. His eyebrows furrowed in his sleep, and you reached up to smooth them out gently before tapping his nose.

Scrunching it, Isaac’s eyelids started to flutter, and you waited patiently for his eyes to open and him to wake up. He blinked sleepily at you, “Morning,” he spoke, voice about two octaves deeper.

“Morning, hon,” you brushed a kiss across his cheekbone and he smiled sleepily.

Moving even closer, he shifted a little bit to give you room to get closer. He sighed in contentment, “What did you want to do today?”

“Hmm,” you mused, tapping a finger on his exposed collarbone, “we could go to the mall. Haven’t bought my roommate a Christmas present yet.”

“I need to get something else for Scott,” he broke off to yawn, “so that sounds good to me.”

You hummed, “Okay. We should get up before the mall gets too crowded.”

He groaned dramatically, but let you up, pouting as he did so. Smiling widely, you crossed your arms, staring him down until he got up and walked to the closet to get dressed.

“You’re driving right?” you asked ten minutes later after the two of you were bundled up enough to go outside.

He sighed, “You’re the one used to driving in the snow, but I suppose I can for your sake.” 

You laughed, throwing the apartment door open and immediately froze, staring out the third floor window at the feet of snow that built up overnight. He ran into you from behind, not realizing you’d stopped, and snorted at the view.

“Guess we’re not going to the mall,” you murmured.

“Looks like we’re snowed in.”

A gust of air blew through the building and you shivered, turning to nudge him back inside, “Go go go, I’m freezing.” 

The two of you took your coats off, and you nudged the heat up while Isaac made a pot of coffee. He handed you a warm mug a few minutes later and pulled you toward the couch. Before you joined him sitting, you pouted. 

Isaac sighed, faux annoyed, “Can I help you?”

“I’m cold.”

“Get a blanket,” he suggested, reaching over to pull one out of the basket you kept next to the couch.

“It wouldn’t be enough,” you insisted, definitely bullshitting.

He raised his eyebrows, “What would you like?” 

Grinning, you answered eagerly, “A sweater.”

His smile softened, and he stood up, “Now that I can do.” 

Disappearing into his room, you waited for him to come back, and when he did, he had one of your favorite of his cardigans in his hand. You pulled it on, snuggling into its warmth, and settled down on the couch next to him.

“So, what should we do?”

He hummed, “Would you mind if I caught up on my book?”

“Not at all,” you answered, “I might try one of the ones you suggested if you have any.”

Raising his eyebrows, Isaac huffed, “Sweetheart, do you think I just know off the top of my head which books I’ve recommended?”

Rolling your eyes, you told him, “You don’t have to, I have them all in my notes in my phone.”

Isaac looked genuinely taken aback, and you smiled as he finally gathered his thoughts, “Um, okay. Show me.”

And he did have some of the books so he pulled them out and let you judge by their covers which one you wanted to read first. When you picked, he grabbed his book off the nightstand and followed you back to the couch.

You let him lay down first, following suit when he finally stilled, resting between his legs, leaned back against his chest. It was comfortable, you moving with his breaths, and Isaac reached down with one of his hands to hold yours, fingers linked together. It was harder to flip the pages, but you didn’t want to let go.

The book was good, Isaac was right in his assumption you’d like it. Immediately drawn in, you held it in your right hand, as did he, your left hands linked together, resting on your stomach. He stayed very still, neither of you moving much besides taking a sip of coffee. 

The only exception being when he sat up, bringing you with him, to pull the blanket up over both of your legs. Both of you were facing a window with the blinds open, and every so often you’d look up to see it still snowing outside.

After what felt like minutes but was probably hours, Isaac’s stomach growled, breaking the two of you out of the peaceful silence. He smiled sheepishly, “We haven’t eaten yet.” 

“Do you have leftovers?” you asked, closing your book.

“Yeah.”

“Lunch break.”

You both made plates, taking turns heating them up in the microwave, and he sat down at the table first, waiting for you to join him to eat. It was quiet until he broke it again, “Hey.”

Eyebrows raised, you echoed, “Hey.”

He cleared his throat nervously, “So I’ve been wondering what jobs you’ve been looking into?”

You hummed, “I really liked the hydro class I took. Kind of knew already that I wanted to work in either transportation or water systems, but my transportation class sucked so I’m definitely leaning more toward water systems.”

Isaac nodded, “What would that entail?”

“Designing dams and stuff like that.”

“So you want to live on a coast?” 

With a laugh, you shrugged, “I’ll live wherever they give me a job.”

“Fair.”

“What about you?” you asked, leaning on your elbow, chin resting in your hand.

“I like the idea of being an English professor. I’d need to see if I need a master’s or not.” 

“Are you interested in getting a master?”

He shrugged, cheeks turning a bit red, “I like the idea. My dad always used to tell me I’ll never amount to anything. I know he’s wrong, I mean a bachelor’s degree is huge because he didn’t have one. But the idea of rubbing a master’s in his face is nice.” 

You nodded, taking it in, “I totally understand. I think if I can’t find a job relatively soon after graduating, I’m going to get a master’s myself. It’ll help me not only with a job, but I’ll be able to move up to a senior position one day if the opportunity arises.”

“And I’m sure you will, you’re very good at pretty much everything you try to do,” he praised.

You rolled your eyes, “Yeah, everything but English and anything writing related that’s not scientific.”

He shrugged, “And I’m great at those things, so we make a great team. A team that should never split.”

Jaw dropping a little, you stared at him, “Are you proposing to me right now?” 

Stuttering for a few seconds, he eventually managed, “No, but yes.”

“That’s clear,” you responded sarcastically.

“I’m proposing we stay together after undergrad.We go somewhere together, I’m willing to move with you anywhere. We don’t have to get married immediately, but maybe one day, we could.”

You beamed, “I would absolutely love that.”

Isaac perked up, “Yeah?”

“Yeah. And for the record,” you added, “if you get into grad school before I find a job, I’d move with you too and find a job there.” 

He was shaking his head before you even finished, “No, your career is more important than any degree.”

You raised your eyebrows, “I want this to be fair.”

“It will be. It absolutely will be. I don’t want you to compromise that for me.”

Touched, you managed, “That’s very sweet of you.”

“Yeah well, I want you to stick around. If that’s what it takes, I have no issue. There are schools everywhere, but there might only be a few places with your dream job. I want to support that.”

Smiling tearfully, you had to stand up and walk over to him, tiling his chin up to meet you in a kiss. He returned it eagerly, and you felt something fall into place. An uncertainty you didn’t even realize you’d been dealing with finally being resolved.

Pulling away, you kept your hand on his chin to look him in the eye and quietly spoke, “I can’t wait.”

“Me neither,” he answered back, just as quiet.

~

day 17 of @obxmermaid​‘s holiday challenge: snowed in

[star-six7]

And You’re Someone Who Knows Someone (Who Was Someone I Once Knew)

Mikey Way x Reader (Gender Neutral)

Word Count: 1909

Request: Could I request anything with Mikey? Thanks :)

A/N: I am so sorry about the delay on this one! I’ve been drowning in school and work at the moment, but I’m still thinking of you guys, I promise! Also, catch that title reference ;)

Disclaimer: This is entirely a work of fiction. No part of this story is meant to be libel, slander, or in any way derogatory towards any character’s real life counterpart. I’m not delusional; I know that these characters are simply based off of a public persona and may not actually resemble the people behind those personas. Any additional characters that you do not recognize are entirely fictional, unless otherwise stated. And finally, if you got here by Googling yourself, whatever happens next is 100% on you.

You rocked back and forth on the balls of your feet anxiously as you stood in front of the chain-link fence. Finally, a large guy with a security shirt came into your view, calling out your name.

“Hey,” he grinned when you nodded. “It’s good to finally meet you in person; Gerard’s been chattering nonstop about you for the past few days. I’m Worm, I’m in charge of most of the security for the band; I’ll take you back now.”

“Okay,” you nodded, putting away the backstage pass that Gerard had mailed to you. You were slightly taken aback by the professional quality of the whole set-up; the last time you had been to a My Chem show, it had been in a much less… respectable venue, and there wasn’t even the faintest idea of guards and backstage passes. Something told you that the security probably wasn’t the only thing that had changed over the last few years...

While you were lost in your thoughts, Worm had led you through a back parking lot filled with big box trucks and busy stage crews right to the band’s bus. He punched in a key-code, and grandly guided you up the steps. 

“Gerard, your esteemed guest has arrived!” He winked good-naturedly at you, and then turned to leave. “Soundcheck at four, please attempt to think about being there in some semblance of a timely manner.” He rolled his eyes as he exited the bus.

Gerard, of course, didn’t hear him because he was too busy leaping off the couch so he could tackle you. “You’re here!”

“Yes,” you grinned, attempting to pat his back and keep your balance at the same time. “It’s been so long, Gerard, how are you?”

He let go and returned your smile. “I’ve been great, really great. A lot better than I was the last time we met. Um,” he ran a hand through his close-cropped white hair, and glanced sideways at Mikey. “You remember Ray and Mikey, right?”

“Of course,” you grinned at them. “How could I not? I did go to all of your shows for a year.”

“Well, uh, Otter ended up leaving after we finished recording Three Cheers, so that’s Bob- say hi, Bob- oh! And you remember Pencey, right? Well, Frankie’s with us now, and I think that about covers it.”

You waved at them. You remembered Frank’s wild nature, not surprised that he fit in so well with My Chem, and Bob seemed nice enough. All of the guys seemed genuinely excited about your presence, though you couldn’t shake the feeling that there were some conspiratorial glances and nudges being thrown around by everyone except Mikey. In fact, the bassist in question was doing his best to look artfully bored from his place on the couch and ignore Frank’s not-so-subtle shoving. Still, you felt a certain tug towards him, even after all these years.

“C’mon!” Gerard said brightly, snapping you out of your observations. “Let me give you the grand tour.”

The rest of the afternoon passed by in a whirlwind of wandering the bus park and venue with Gerard, watching the guys soundcheck from the nosebleeds, and dining on pizza in the green room. You were so glad you had been able to make it to a show; Gerard was one of your closest friends, and it had been a couple of years since you had last met. 

Your friendship had started during your senior year of college- you had both had an internship in the same building, albeit for different companies and lines of work. Since then, you had bonded over several of your shared interests and kept in touch, leading you to go to several of the first My Chem shows, and by extension, meet Ray, Frank, and Mikey. Though your busy work life and their crazy tour schedule had caused you to drift apart, it felt like no time had passed at all as you watched Ray swat Frank for stealing his pizza while Gerard and Mikey laughed uncontrollably at Ray’s exasperated expression.

Soon enough, it was time for them to go onstage, which became evident when the venue’s stage manager knocked on the door to lead them to the curtain. Worm reappeared and guided you to the seat marked on your ticket from Gerard- a center stage view from the very first row of actual seats behind the pit. Clearly, Gerard had wanted to make sure you didn’t miss a single part of the show.

The lights dimmed, and you watched two crewmembers dressed as doctors and nurses wheel out a covered gurney while the sound of a heartbeat monitor played over the sound system. You were unsurprised when Gerard leapt out of the gurney moments later, kicking off the show. 

You already knew the guys were awe-inspiring onstage- you had known it from the way you felt the first time you saw them live- but it was clear to see that over the past few years, they had taken it to a whole new level. They had each grown into their stage personas and their identity as a band, but your eyes kept drifting to one member in particular...

You had noticed it earlier today, but Mikey had definitely evolved since the last time you had met. He seemed much more sure of himself onstage; instead of retreating to the space almost directly behind Gerard, he often came up to the edge of the stage or interacted with his bandmates. He also seemed more relaxed off stage, easily interacting with fans outside of the venue and joking before the show with the rest of the band and crew. You couldn’t deny that he was a far cry from Gerard’s shy, slightly awkward, little brother you had met all those years ago.

Before you knew it, the show was over, and Frank was insisting on heading to a nearby diner for several plates of french fries and milkshakes. You glanced at your watch and balked. “Shit… I’m sorry guys, it’s almost 1am and I didn’t get a hotel. I think I’m going to start the drive home.”

Frank and Gerard glanced at each other, and then they rushed to stop you. “Don’t be ridiculous, come with us and you can just stay on the bus!”

“I don’t want to take up anyone’s space…” You hemmed.

“It’s fine!” Ray insisted. “Don’t even worry about it, you can sleep in the back lounge, it’s honestly very nice.”

Though you were suspicious of their enthusiasm, you accepted their offer with a shrug and followed the rest of the group in their search for a 24 hour diner.

…

You sighed as you took off your shoes and settled into the bed in the back lounge. You were exhausted; the long day of walking, dancing, and socializing was starting to catch up to you. However, just as soon as you had stretched out across the soft surface and closed you, you were startled upright by the sound of yelling coming from the bunk area just behind the lounge door. Confused, you opened it to see Mikey, looking irate, and Frank looking guilty yet slightly pleased with himself.

“What the actual fuck, Frank?” Mikey glared accusingly at him.

“I’m really sorry Mikey, it was-”

“An accident? Frank, we all know you’re clumsy as fuck, but there’s absolutely no way someone pours an entire liter of soda directly on my bunk on accident!”

“Oh shit,” you said, stepping out of the doorway to assess the damage.

Mikey glanced at you. “Sorry if I woke you up, Frank’s just being ridiculous.”

“Mikey, I don’t think you’re gonna be able to sleep here tonight,” Ray said, gently prodding Mikey’s mattress. “It’s pretty soaked.”

“Oh, well, of course,” Mikey sighed irritably. “Well, couch it is, then.”

“Actually,” Gerard piped up, oh-so-helpfully, “there’s plenty of space in the back lounge.” He turned to you. “If you’re okay with sharing, that is.”

You stared at him, trying to figure out his plan here. You were pretty sure that if he could bat his eyelashes right now, he would. Ignoring your suddenly accelerating heart rate, you turned back to Mikey.

“I don’t mind sharing, it is your bus after all,” you shrugged, glancing at Mikey. “Gerard’s right, there’s plenty of room.”

The other three looked extremely pleased with themselves.

“Thank you,” he told you, before turning to glare at Frank and head into the bathroom to change.

A few minutes later, you were in the back lounge again, somewhat awkwardly laying on one half of the double bed as you waited for Mikey to turn off the lights and get settled.

He looked abashed as he stretched out on the opposite side of the bed. “I’m sorry for snapping back there,” he said. “It’s just… the guys have been making fun of me for the past few days and it gets old fast.”

“I understand, it's okay,” you nodded, as you watched his silhouette shift closer to you in the dark.

He gave you a considering look. “It’s just… I told them something personal and they couldn’t just leave it alone. Honestly, this whole weekend has been sort of a set up.”

You rolled over to look at him properly as everything began to fall into place. Frank and Gerard’s insistence that you should stay the night, Frank’s “clumsiness,” Gerard’s helpful suggestions, the general feeling that something was going on behind the scenes…

“Oh,” you said, hoping he would confirm your suspicions, “what do you mean?”

“Well, it’s just that,” for a moment, it seemed like the endearing shyness of the Mikey you had met in Gerard’s basement was back. “Okay, like.” He took a steadying breath. “I’m working on building my confidence, so I’m gonna tell you this and hope for this best. I’ve… had a thing for you for a while, if it wasn’t already obvious. I mean, at first, it was just a crush… but as the years went on, and I- we grew up, I’ve realized it’s more than that. I know I’m still working on being stable, but I want to take that chance with you. I mean, if you feel the same way of course.” He paused. “Wow, that was a weight off my chest.”

You stared at him, opening your mouth to speak and then closing it as you parsed your thoughts. You had always felt a certain fondness for Mikey, and the past day had shown you that, over the course of a few years, it had grown into something more than friendship. You couldn’t deny that you also had feelings towards Mikey, and that seeing his new-found confidence and sense of self had only solidified them.

“Um, you’re not like, pissed, are you?”

His timid question snapped you out of your reverie.

“No, of course not!” you rushed to assure him. “I… I feel the same way, Mikey. I think I always have.”

“Oh!” He couldn’t keep the small grin off of his face. “So then I guess you don’t mind if I do this then, right?” He moved in closer to you and wrapped his free arm around your waist, effectively pulling you into his chest.

You smiled, warm with the feeling that things had finally fallen into place. “Good guess,” you sighed, already beginning to fall asleep.

“One more thing,” Mikey paused.

“Hm?”

“Under no circumstances can the others know that their evil plan worked.” “Deal.”

[arcadianstuff]

“School rivals”

Douxie and (y/n) have hated each other since the moment they met for reasons unknown to the other. Now your arch nemesis has entered your school and you want to find out why.

——————————-

“So (y/n) can I catch a ride to school ?” Your younger brother Jim asked you giving you a pleading look.

In response you let out a short laugh before stopping and giving him a cold stare.

“Um no.”

With a swish of your hair you turned around and headed out the door calling up to your mum Barbara that you’d be home late after soccer practice. Annoyed at you, Jim through a pillow at your head as you made your way out of the door, only marginally missing you.

“Only six months till the end of senior year and I’m out of this place.” Swinging your leg over the side of your motorcycle you grumbled to yourself, envisioning the freedom you’d have once you left the confines of the tiny town you’d always lived in.

A dreamer and adventurer at heart, you’d always dreamed of leaving your hometown for something bigger and better; an adventure awaited you, you could feel it.

On your motorcycle it only took like ten minutes to get to school and the sight of Arcadia Oaks High only dampened your mood. Sure you had good friends, were captain of the girls soccer team and had been Spring Fling Queen back in the day but you had a serious case of Senioritis.

At least you had your motorcycle to bring some excitement into your life. Yes your mum had a heart attack when she sure you riding it back home from the dealership you’d bought it from, but after much persuasion and a presentation showing how safe it was, stastitsics etc your mum caved. Only on the condition that you wore the most expensive and protective helmet that you could find.

“Yay....school....” Grumbling more, you locked your motorcycle up in front, ignoring the flirty looks you got from Steve, a boy in your brothers year at school who had a bit of a puppy crush on you.

“Looking good (y/n). Sweet ride.” With a wink Steve whistled your way only causing you to roll your eyed at his childish flirting.

“Morning to you to Steve.” With a stale good morning you marched past him, helmet in hand as you entered the busy school.

“Morning Señor Uhl.” You greeted your Spanish teacher as he walked past you down the hall, who in return smiled and said:

“Buenas días miss (l/n). You did very well on your Spanish mid term, A*. If only your younger brother good do as well.” Your Spanish teacher praised, before walking down the corridor again, shooting a glare at your brother who’d just entered the school woth Toby and Claire flanking him.

“Pshh (y/n) this and (y/n) that. Can’t catch a break.” A frown passed his face as he mumbled to himself having heard Señor Uhl’s comment.

Jim watched as you walked away, smiling at your friends who greeted you. People in this school treated you like royalty. With perfect grades, a talent for soccer and overall a nice fun personality you were beloved here. Yet nobody knew how much you wanted to leave, how unhappy you really were in your tiny town.

“Cheer up Jimbo. At least you aren’t sick like Claire.” Beside him Toby tried to cheer his best friend up, who smiled begrudgingly before turning his attention back onto Claire, who looked very pale and ill.

Outside in the sunlight the courtyard looked quite pretty, light filtering through the trees and splashing across the ground. As you made your way over to your locker you couldn’t help but notice the commotion coming from a group of girls, who were huddled in a semi circle around something....or someone ?

“Huh wonder what’s going on...” Curious and a bit bored you grabbed your books from your locker, swinging it shut before walking over.

You weren’t the only one who’d noticed, Jim and Toby too were also watching the swarm of girls, Jim specifically was staring at Claire who’d been dragged over by Mary. Unlike the lot of girls who were giggling and talking excitedly, you were less than impressed to see the one and only Douxie Casperan standing among them.

“Oh brother....” you thought to yourself as Claire dropped her books by accident in front of Douxie who lent down to pick them up, flirting then ensuing.

“C bomb is it ? Consider me blown away because you are nuclear.” With a flirtatious look, Douxie continued to make Claire giggle at his flirting who in turn turned a rosy pink.

“Very original Casperan.” You’re snarky comment broke their little moment, drawing Douxie’s attention to you.

“Oh it’s you (y/n) nice to see your as lovely as ever darling.” He winked at the end of his comment, pleased with the way the expression on your face soured with annoyance.

“Sad to say I can’t say the same for you. What are you doing here ? You don’t go to our school.” Your time was harsher now, colder and the girls around you could sense the growing tension, deciding it was safer to back up. Except for Mary of course who was living the drama unfolding before her.

Your brother, both annoyed at Douxie for flirting with his girlfriend and worried about you starting a fight made his way over slinging his arm around Claire protectively.

“I would also like to know what brings you to our humble school ? And what it will take to send you back.” Jim pushed a little at Douxie’s chest just a warning but enough to get the message across that he wasn’t welcome here.

Ignroning you now, Douxie paid attention to your brother and Claire, chatting about some band competition he wanted more people to enter and about his amazing band what was it called ? Astrol Dispersal pattern ? The hell type of name is that.

“Pshhh sure sounds lame. Always trying to impress the girls with your music.” Your comment brought Douxie’s and the others attention back onto you.

Raising an eyebrow in both amusement and slight annoyance Douxie smirked down at you, enjoying the way you looked when you were being defiant and sasssy.

“If I remember correctly love, you used to be one of those girls.” His comment sent a chorus of ‘ooooooo’s through the crowd of girls around you, who quickly scattered upon seeing you glaring at them. People at the school knew not to mess with you when you got mad.

“Please like I’d ever be caught listening to your music. You’ve got nothing on Papa Skull.”

The two of you were squaring up now, standing a little bit closer and entering into an intense glaring match. Claire and Jim watched, a little worried now about what may unfold. Jim especially did not like the way Douxie was flirting with his older sister.

Unaware of the tense situation, Darcie, another girl in your brothers year, rushed over to you guys. Giggling excitedly at Claire.

“Claire we should totally enter !” In excitement she shook Claire slightly, joined by Mary who also exclaimed:

“Yeah we could be a cover band. Call ourselves umm... mama skull !!”

The girls shrieked and giggled, the prospect of performing and playing covers of one of their favourite bands exciting them. It made you smile to see them happy about it, remembering the good old days of being in sophmore year.

However Jim’s obvious jealousy dampened the mood and it made you smile more to see that your brother too shared a distaste for Douxie Casperan.

“Yeah I don’t think that’s such a good idea. I mean it’s the end of the school year and we are already pretty overbooked.” Placing emphasis on the word “overbooked” Jim snatched away the band battle pamphlet from Claire, hoping to discourage the girls.

In retaliation howeverClaire just snatched the flyer back, smiling excitedly and saying

“Well a friend of mine said I needed a little extra balance in my life. We’ll do it.”

You raised an eyebrow at the strange way the pair were talking, clearly they were hiding something and being very vague about what the said. You’d known something was up with brother since the beginning of the school year, but had never been able to place your finger on it. Besides you were busy with choosing a college, a major and your last year of soccer as team captain.

“Well I hope to see you there soon. Fair Claire.” Douxie’s flirtatious nickname for Claire made you roll your eyes and also internally barf a little.

Whilst the sophomores walked away, Jim sending one last glare to Douxie and not particularly liking how close he was standing to you, you remained in the courtyard with Douxie as it started to quietened down as students made their way to home room.

“She’d like sixteen dude. And also has a boyfriend.” Grossed out a little you pointed a finger at Douxie as you spoke, who only chuckled in return.

“It’s just some harmless flirting I swear. Anyways another girls caught my eye.” Again he winked at you and to your horror you felt your cheeks turning pink.

‘Fudgeknuckles’ you thought to yourself as you suddnetly became aware of how close the pair of you were standing to each other.

“Uhuh well send my condolences to the unlucky girl.” Sassing back, you laughed a little at the scowl that crossed his features, enjoying his annoyance thoroughly.

“I’ve gotten how much of a pain in the ass you can be.” He face palmed recalling how annoying you’d been upon past interactions, like working together in the cafe or running into each other in town.

“Well I’ve enjoyed the peace and quiet not having to see your ugly punk face everyday.” The pair of you now were only a mere inches apart, glaring at each other with a mixture of hatred and something else....

It was a shame the two of you didn’t get along but it was only natural really. Considering what you truly were it was no wonder he hated you, you on the other hand had no clue why he was so aggressive towards you. One day you’d met after a soccer match against Aracadia Oaks Academy. It was your first game and you’d won so you were riding a high of happiness and adrenaline which had quickly come crashing down when you’d quite literally crashed into the wizard on your way out of the changing rooms.

He’d sensed it from the moment he’d met you. The dark magic that flooded your veins. It reminded him of a sorceress he wished he could forget, somebody who’d ruined so much for him and hurt people he held close. Morgana La Fay. However you on the other hand didn’t seem to sense a thing, it was like you didn’t know you were magic. And quite quickly he’d realised you didn’t have a clue, and that naivety annoyed him. It also annoyed him that he found you beautiful and funny and smart. At first he’d chalked it up to a spell or curse but quickly realised sadly it was teenage hormones. Perks of being stuck at the age of 19 for hundreds of years.

“(L/n) !! You have soccer practice first period ! What are you doing with that boy?!” The thunderous tells of coach Lawrence sent you flying in the air out of shock and fear. Both you and Douxie quickly jumped apart, fear on both your faces as Coach Lawrence yelled at you from the doorway to the languages block.

“Umm nothing Coach. He was ummm...ummm here about a match between Arcadia Oaks high and Arcadia Oaks Academy..yeah umm he says we should play a friendly next Monday !” You quickly yelled back, fearing coach Lawrence would see through your lie.

However you appeared to be in the clear, as a relived look crossed the Coach’s face.

“Oh well okay then.....But shouldn’t you be practicing on the field then !” Just as you thought we calm he started yelling again and you quickly scampered away, running towards coach to head to the field.

Behind you Douxie finally snapped out of his fearful state, having been spooked by Coach’s sudden appearance. He watched you run back into your school, not missing the wink and small wave you sent his way as you disappeared behind the door.

“She’s really something...” A love struck expression made its way across Douxie’s face as thought about how close the two of you had been, the smell of your perfume and the cute way your nose crinkled when you got angry.

Regardless of the magic coursing through your veins and the hatred the pair of you shared for each other it was clear there was something more between the two of you.

[hayleyarts]

Broken Without You (Jasper Hale x OC) | chapter 1

Author’s note: Hello! i don’t normally post that many stories or much on here but I’ve been working on a Jasper Hale fan-fiction to try and redeem him and show my favourite cowboy vamp some love. Anyways, this story contains swears and will have some graphic scenes referring to mental health and past trauma. I’ll give more specific warnings where they apply. Also, each chapter is inspired by some music; so if you want to listen to that particular song while you read, you can but you don’t necessarily have to :)

Summary: Eleanor Rae lives in a town where there are seemingly no secrets, but what happens when a certain vampire takes an interest in her. She’ll soon find out she’s not the only one with secrets. Will he be able to put her broken pieces back together? Can she fix him in return?

Word count: 2334

Read Part 2 Here 

Track 01 - Eleanor Rigby by Alice Cooper

Forks, Washington; the rainiest town in the United States. The benefits of living in a rainy town is the fact that the forests nearby are some of the greenest you’ll ever see. The cons of living in a rainy town as small as this one is how there are no secrets; everyone knows everyone for the most part. Therefore, when people see me: Eleanor Rae, they immediately know my back story. Of course, you’re not from Forks, so how would you know who the hell I am, or what my story is. 

The Rae family, also known as my mother Cecilia and myself, lives in a small cottage on the edge of town. Our small, 2-bedroom place is just close enough to town to be considered still in Forks, but with the town being so small, you’re simply ten minutes from all needed amenities. One such amenity is the hospital that my mother works at and the high school I’ve been attending for 2 years. At school I’m known as the strange girl with headphones glued to their head. Everyone has stopped trying to talk with me and try to become my friend, because I’m just ‘too weird’. Outcasts in small towns are rare; no secrets are allowed. Thus, why I envied the Cullen family. 

The Cullen’s were a family that became the talk of the town since freshman year of high school mostly because they broke the unwritten rule of small towns; they had secrets. No one knew what these secrets were, but everyone knew there was something they were hiding. The patriarch was the best doctor Forks has ever seen; Dr. Carlisle Cullen. He and his wife manage to take care of six adopted teenage kids; who in their right mind would do that to themselves? Their kids are a completely different anomaly. Even though they are all adoptive siblings, they happen to look extremely similar; blemish free complexion, model-like beauty, and this sense of grace that normal teenagers definitely don’t have. The thing that bothers me the most is that after a year or so, everyone stopped paying close attention to the strange family, but I didn’t. I mean, it’s hard not to when they’re all so beautiful, especially the brother with the wavy golden hair that frames his face perfectly. He was the one I was the most drawn to, and I don’t really know why. There was something about his presence that calmed me; God I wanted to talk to him. But how does one speak to someone as gorgeous as Jasper Cullen? 

I climb out of my Jeep, my feet planting on the cement of the parking lot. I look up at the building, sighing softly to myself; Junior Year of high school. A lot of people tend to stress about senior year, but to me, junior year is the one that matters. You need to figure yourself out because next year you’re applying for colleges. If you don’t have yourself figured out before senior year, then you’re royally fucked. I take my time to cross the lot before entering the school; the white tiled floor already scuffed from the various footwear. The lockers remained the same, even some of the posters on the walls were the same. The only thing that really seems to change is the people; some with different haircuts or new clothing. Different people smiling and laughing with new friend groups, some people missing because they moved during the summer. Growth spurts from the now sophomores, and then the completely new group of people that no one from the older grades recognized; the new freshmen. The one thing that stayed the same among the students, is no matter how much they laughed and joked with their friends; at the end of the day, we’re all lonely people. 

I follow the flow of people as I make my way to my first class of the day: history. I always dreaded history class because of the teachers that usually instruct the class. Why is it that every boring and/or almost ready to retire man teaches history class? If someone exciting taught the class, I might actually like it more. I arrive to the room, flags of various countries littered over the open door and students were already finding their seats. Luckily the seat in the far back corner by the window was vacant; that’s where I always try to sit. I like that seat because its far enough back that if you doze off in class no one really notices, and if you want to zone out rather than listen to the teacher, then you have the window to stare out of. 

Once I sit down, I take the time to pull my supplies out of my bag. All I tend to use is a notebook and pens while everyone else pulls out tablets and laptops; call me old-fashioned. I flip to a fresh page in the notebook when a voice pulls me away from my task. The accent clearly southern and extremely polite.

“Excuse me ma’am, is anyone sitting here?” I look up and I’m immediately met with the eyes that resemble the most expensive topaz gems; glittering underneath the fluorescent lights. He raises a brow as he gestures to the desk adjacent to me, “Ma’am?”

“Yeah… sorry,” I blush, snapping out of my daze, “There’s no one sitting there, go ahead.” He smiles at my answer as he makes himself comfortable, or well, as comfortable you can on a plastic chair. He pulls out his own notebook and pens, preparing for the class that’s about to begin. I couldn’t help myself from admiring his movements. His pale hands move with more grace than I could ever; placing the pens gently down on the wood of the desk, making sure they were ready when needed to take notes. My eyes didn’t stop there; they wandered from his hands to his choice of clothing. It’s not every day you get to sit this close to a member of the Cullen family, I plan on taking advantage of this rare moment. His clothing was simple but coordinated; his grey sweater with brown buttons matching the brown colouring of his dress pants. The one thing that stood out was his choice of footwear: cowboy boots. They were legitimate brown and black leather cowboy boots, and damn did they look worn in. 

I snap my eyes away from him before he could notice my staring, paying my attention back to the rain falling outside. Its then when Mr. Henderson stomps in the room and slams his folder down on his desk. He seemed about as thrilled about the first day of school as everyone else in this room. He began his lecture the same as every other first day lecture; the expectations of the class, the policies and rules and what he expects from us as students in his class. This isn’t what I dislike about the first day of school, what I hate are the icebreaker activities that the teachers force you to partake in.

“Okay class, for the rest of the period I’m going to have you and someone next to you discuss the answers to these various questions.” His monotone voice explains while handing out a worksheet covered in various questions. Students quickly pair off, some actually participating in the exercise while others begin discussing what they did during the summer. 

“Would you like to be my partner?”

I raise a brow at the southern voice breaking my observations, “What?”

“For the exercise?” He mimics my expression.

“Right… sure.” I blush, chuckling awkwardly.

“I’m Jasper, by the way. Jasper Hale.” He smiles politely.

“Hale?”

He chuckles, “Yeah, my sister Rosalie and I kept our last names.” 

I nod, taking in the new information. I had no idea that he had a different last name. I always assumed that because they were adopted by Dr. Cullen, they all had the same last name. 

“I’m Eleanor… Eleanor Rae.” I smile, turning to face him, “But my mom calls me Ellie.”

“What do your friends call you?” He raises a brow.

“Um… I guess Ellie?” I shrug, “I don’t really have any friends.” I look down at the worksheet, reading through the questions. Most of them were related to history class, some were about life goals, and school related questions. 

“You don’t have friends?” I glance up at him as he asks his question, his brows furrowed. 

“Not really. I like to be in my own little world I guess.” I shrug, “Kind-of similar to your family in that way.”

“How is that similar to my family?” 

“Well, you and your family keep to themselves, so do I.” 

He chuckles, shrugging, “I suppose,” He looks down at the questions, reading the first one off, “What are your goals for after school?”

“Um…” I furrow my brows thinking about the question. What are my plans? I haven’t really started thinking about where exactly I’ll be in roughly two years; after graduation and when I’m supposed to have my life figured out. I hope one of my goals for after I graduate would to attend college and take classes in psychology or philosophy; wanting to learn more about myself in the process. Another goal I eventually want to accomplish is leaving this small town; starting a new life in a new town where no one knows who I am, maybe take some time off and travel the world. Of course, I don’t say any of this to him, instead I respond with, “Probably go to college or something. Get good grades, you know?”

He nods, “That’s what the teachers want us to say.” His face slowly forms a smirk, “I feel like there’s more you want to say.”

I roll my eyes, my own face phasing into a smirk, “Maybe,” I lean closer to him, “But I’d like to hear your answer first.”

He chuckles, “Well, one of my goals is to settle down eventually. Find someone who understands me.”

I blink, “How romantic.” I reply sarcastically with a chuckle. 

“Don’t judge darlin’.” He chuckles along with me. His pet-name catches me off guard, the southern drawl dripping from the word, “Now, give me your real answer.”

“Well I’d love to travel, and maybe start a new life somewhere.” I shrug, “Some place where no one knows everyone else.” I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. 

“And you judged my answer.” He raises a brow playfully as I blush. 

“Well, both of our answers were cheesy,” I glance back down to the paper with a sigh, “These questions are also lame and cheesy.”

“Then let’s make our own questions.” He retorts, “What…” he pauses to think then continues his question, “What is your favourite movie?”

“Really?”

Jasper laughs, “It’s a valid question. Mine is Pride and Prejudice. Either that or The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.”

I chuckle, thinking about his answers. They’re both older movies, and one an even older novel. To be honest, those movies seem to match him perfectly. He seems like a gentleman kind of guy, and extremely old fashioned in his mannerisms and in the way he speaks. Not only that, but the western matches his god-awful cowboy boots. 

“Well, probably Jaws or The Breakfast Club.” I shrug, “I’ve seen both of them too many times to count so they’re probably my favourites.”

He nods at my response, “Both excellent movies. Very different though.”

I blink, “Well, your mood changes therefore the things you enjoy watching or listening to at any given moment doesn’t necessarily stay the same.” 

He narrows his eyes at my words. It was like he was surprised by my answer, and that he knew something I didn’t know. He didn’t say anything to my answer, but I could tell he wanted to. He fell silent as the class continues to have their various discussions; his golden eyes shifting from group to group. 

“What’s your favourite colour?” His eyes snap back to me at my question.

“It changes all the time.” He smirks, his answer mimicking mine from previously.

“Well what is it today?” I smirk back, raising a brow. I watch as his eyes look around the room, as if to find the answer throughout the room.

After what feels like hours, his eyes finally land on my own, “Probably green.” I blush, looking away from him, letting my dark hair fall in front of my green hued eyes. I didn’t know why he was trying to flirt with me, I mean… I’m me. Why on earth would Jasper Cull–Hale want anything to do with me? “What’s your favourite?” He tries to get me to look back at him. 

“Red or burgundy.” I mumble, glancing up at the clock; only five more minutes of class left, and, in this moment, I wasn’t sure if I wanted these last five minutes to last forever, or be finished in seconds. Jasper makes me feel differently and I’m not sure if I can pin-point why. 

“Why those?” He raises a brow. I’ve never pondered why I liked the warm colour before. Maybe it was because it symbolized various emotions like passion, love or anger. Maybe I liked the colour red because when I wear red garments of clothing, it complements my pale complexion well. Or maybe it’s because it reminds me of the red flowers in my mother’s garden outside our cottage home; roses, dahlias, and peonies planted in various patterns.  

When the bell rang, signalling the end of class, I only then realized that I didn’t answer the question; thinking of an answer quickly as I gather my supplies so I could move to my next class in my schedule, “Probably because it’s familiar.” I mumble as I leave the class. I only take a moment to glance back at him momentarily; seeing his confused expression before I join the sea of other students in the hallway.

[queenofheaven82]

PART III - Abandoned

Lacey folded her arms, shivering under Max's letter jacket which was draped over her shoulders. She tried to make as many of his games as she could, even when she had to bring her homework with her. For all Max's faults, she knew his hockey playing had little support at home -- his dad had preferred he'd played football -- so she tried to encourage him.

Looking up every so often from Twentieth Century in the U.S., she would spot his number sixty-four on the ice. He skated across the rink at a dizzying speed, skillfully guiding the puck when it came to him. Hockey always looked so easy to play from this vantage point.

But as good a player as Max was, there were two people who thwarted him when he played against Eden Hall: the Ducks goalie, Julie "The Cat" Gaffney and, of course, Banks. Banks was twice as fast as Max, and Lacey noticed the way he sailed alongside Max almost menacingly, usually managing to finagle the puck away. He was deft at dodging defense and was completely unafraid of engaging guys that were bigger than him.

However, something was different tonight. Adam skated more slowly than usual, and each tackle against the wall he took seemed to take him longer to recover from. Finally -- for the first time Lacey had ever seen -- Coach Orion benched him. She could tell Adam was not happy. He took off his gloves and slammed them down on the bench, pacing restlessly until Coach Orion came over and uttered what looked to Lacey like a few harsh words, but followed it with a hand on the young man's shoulder. As little as Lacey knew about hockey, she had to admit, Coach Orion seemed good for the Ducks. He had begun as their JV coach a few years ago, but it became very apparent the team's bond was unbreakable, and Coach Orion moved up to Varsity with the team he had become so proud of -- the Mighty Ducks.

Lacey felt a little guilty paying more attention to Adam than Max during the game, but she was still trying to figure him out. She knew that as a twelve-year-old she'd probably been naive to put the boy on a pedestal simply because he'd offered his scarf when her nails were bleeding. But at the time, it had been the kindest thing a peer had done for her in a long time. As much of a hardball as Mr. Banks was, Adam surely was raised right on some level. The small, seemingly insignificant act showed he had compassion.

But did she really know anything else about him? Not exactly. He seemed quiet and somewhat serious, but she never saw him outside of hockey games. Yet his actions at the party indicated to her that he wasn't anything special. Just a guy, a good hockey player. Yet still, she struggled to keep her focus away from his strong presence when he was close by.

What was wrong with her? She added her recent fascination with Adam to the mental list she was keeping of ways she seemed to be changing lately. The culprit had to be senior year. Her mom had warned her about this -- the change in priorities, in interests, and the confusion about life in general.

Soon the game ended without Adam ever getting a chance to go back on the ice. Without his toughest competition, Max soared, his success only hampered by Gaffney. In the end the Ducks won anyway, but Max seemed quite full of himself for the goals he'd scored.

It usually took awhile for Max to take off all his padding and gear and then get a shower, and Lacey was tired of sitting on the bleachers, so she made her way into the frigid night air, tossed her history book in the back of Max's newly repaired car and decided to walk around the campus of Eden Hall for awhile.

The buildings stood tall and proud, covered with ivy in places with huge, well-lit walkways and flowers blooming on either side of her. What would it be like to go to school at this place? To have money and influence at all?

Lacey's mind wandered as she strolled along, trying not to venture too far from the car so she would be able to tell when Max was ready to go, but she had to fight the urge to explore every square inch of this place. She saw a fountain in the center of a nearby courtyard, closed down for the winter, but she could just imagine how beautiful it would be in the summer sunlight.

"Um, excuse me!"

Lacey was jarred from her tranquility by the sound of footsteps running up behind her. She couldn't see well enough, even by the streetlamps, to identify the girl, but her voice was friendly enough.

"I think you might have dropped this." As the girl approached, she held out a pink and purple koosh ball, half the rubber strands missing from it.

Lacey's face felt hot as she reached out and grabbed the ball quickly. "Oh, it's... my little sister's," she forced a smile. "Thank you. I guess it fell out of my bag. I was keeping it for her..." She tucked it quickly into her purse as far down to the bottom as possible.

"Oh, you have a little sister?" the girl beamed. "I do too, back in Bangor. I miss her like crazy, being this far away."

Feeling responsible to be at least a little friendly given how abrupt she was in retrieving the koosh ball, Lacey forced a pleasant tone. "You're here from Bangor, Maine?"

The girl nodded, holding out her hand. "Julie Gaffney."

Lacey's brows shot up in surprise. The goalie for the Ducks? She'd never seen Julie before in person, underneath all the pads and face shields. She wasn't sure what she'd imagined Julie to be like, but certainly not like this: normal and friendly with long braided hair and a sweet, girl-next-door face.

"Lacey Primmer," Lacey returned the introduction.

"Are you a student here?"

"Oh, no, I'm... we're from R.M. High. My boyfriend Max and I," Lacey replied.

"Max Shipley?"

"The very one," Lacey chuckled.

"Oh gosh, no kidding!  First line center for the Rockets." It was Julie's turn to raise her brows. "He's really good! Stiff competition."

Lacey nodded, smiling. "Yeah, hockey's his life."

"I'm just as guilty," Julie grinned. "Since I was old enough to skate. So, have you ever played?"

Lacey shook her head. "I'm no good on ice, or skates at all, actually. But it is pretty fascinating to watch you guys."

"Yeah, it's fun," Julie sighed fondly. "That's something Coach Bombay really taught us back in the day -- have fun, above all else. It is just a little nice to win, though" she chuckled. I almost thought we weren't going to pull out, though, when Adam was benched."

Lacey opened her mouth, wanting to... say something? Ask something?

"He seemed to be hurting," she blurted out. "Does he have an injury?"

Julie took a deep breath and shrugged. "Honestly, nobody can figure out what's wrong with him lately. Something's definitely changed, but he's keeping mum. Of course though, that's Adam. He keeps it all locked down tight, if you know what I mean. Probably just how he was raised. Keep a stiff upper lip, that kind of thing."

Lacey nodded, thinking back to the party.

"You know Adam, too?" Julie asked.

"Not really," Lacey replied. "I mean, I've seen him around at parties I've gone to with Max..."

She declined to specify that she meant only one party.

Julie giggled. "He catches eyes, for sure. Handsome guy."

"Oh, I don't mean it that way," Lacey cut in quickly, letting out a short laugh. "He's just, you know, this supposed legend. He commands a room when he comes in, I guess 'cause people know he's the star of the Ducks."

Julie nodded. "The good thing about Adam, though, is that he's all about hockey, not really the glory. I know all jocks say that stuff, but it's really true with him. He stays totally focused on the game. I mean, when he cheers after making a goal, it's because he's just happy he made it."

Lacey nodded again, thoughtfully.

Julie rubbed her hands briskly, wrapping her scarf around her more tightly. "Well, it was nice meeting you! I'm glad I could give you back your sister's koosh."

"Yeah, she'd really miss it," Lacey smiled. "Thank you. Maybe I'll see you at the next game."

Julie laughed. "Sure, that would be cool. It's good to know Shipley's girlfriend isn't a total snob."

Lacey returned a light laugh. "Right. Well... take care, and good game."

As Julie walked away, Lacey felt warmed to the soul. It had been so long since she and another girl had had a good conversation. But Max was out of the locker room now and making his way to his car, looking around in the dark for her.

"I'm here," she jogged back to him. "Good job tonight, Babe." She went around to the driver side and gave him a long kiss.

"I know," he grinned when she pulled back. "Here." He opened the door and she jumped in and scooted over to the passenger side.

"I'm glad you got your car fixed, by the way."

Max snorted, getting in after her. "Yeah no shit."

They rode in silence awhile.

"Max?"

"Yeah?" he reached out and slung his arm around her shoulders.

"What do you think will happen after we graduate?" Lacey let the words drop.

"What do you mean?" he glanced over for a second as he steered the car out of the parking lot.

"I just... I mean, I don't know. You're going to be going off to Minnesota State on a scholarship, and I'm just... going to be here."

"Yup. Good ol' community college," he chuckled.

Lacey felt a stab in her chest. "Max, you know that wasn't my choice."

"Then don't do it. Why would you ever want to stay in this place? I mean get out, see the world! Come to State with me."

"You know it's not that simple," she let out a deep breath. "I've tried financial aid six ways to Sunday, but somehow I still don't qualify... and then there's Mom."

"Your Mom will be fine, Lacey, God. She's got Stuart. Aren't they ever getting married?"

"I have no idea. But until then, if that even happens, she needs me to work, help her with the rent and utilities. You know how Phil Banks is about his stupid rent. No grace periods for us..."

Max snorted. "Well yeah, what do you expect out of a Banks? Ruthless assholes. Anyway, if that's what you wanna do, I mean whatever. But Lacey, I gotta be honest."

Lacey inconspicuously reached into her purse to squeeze her koosh.

"I don't know if I can do the long distance thing. It might be nice to find some girls to just talk to at school, you know? Not that I'd forget you, of course," he added quickly. "I wouldn't take anyone seriously, just... I don't want to get too lonely from missing you," he tightened his arm across her shoulders.

Lacey paused a moment, trying to register the emotions spilling in through her head. "So in other words... you want to date other girls because you just can't be alone. From the sound of it, we may as well just break up before college, am I right?"

"Oh, hey, no!" Max answered quickly. "I mean... we could maybe take a break and stuff, but I wouldn't just dump ya," he laughed light-heartedly as though they were talking about which gallon of ice cream to buy at the grocery store.

"Well, thank you for that," Lacey smiled sarcastically.

It completely went over Max's head. "You're welcome, Babe."

The next words came out of Lacey's mouth before she could stop them -- a bad habit she was adopting lately. "Then Max, I don't know if I want to give myself to you at prom. I mean, if we're not more serious than we are, why should I?"

The thing was, Lacey said these things and meant them, but she wasn't necessarily sad about any of it. It was feeling to her more and more like she and Max had run their course. So why keep putting off this talk?

At the letdown she just issued, Max stiffened. "I thought you wanted to, Lacey. I mean, you told me you did, and... it's just sex, right? Not like it really means all that much, even if I do go off to school and we decide to take a break. It'll be a good time, we can experience it for the first time together, so... why not?" He shrugged and glanced over, but his face betrayed the fact that he knew he'd messed up with his flippancy.

"Oh, okay. Well it's good to know you're keeping it casual," Lacey murmured. Not wanting to continue this talk, she reached down and turned up The Verve's depressing The Freshman. She despised this song normally, but right now, she just wanted to drown out anything else Max might say. At this point, given each of their personal resentments, it would be a miracle if their relationship even made it to prom.

******************************************************************************************

For a couple weeks, Lacey was plagued by hers and Max's discussion, which seriously affected how much attention she paid at school. Her focus even suffered in British literature, her favorite class. And as much as she was able, she avoided Max. It wasn't hard, because semi-playoffs would be coming up and he was busy with extra practices.

One Monday a few weeks into November, Lacey was due at the Cat's Cradle a little early in order to cover for an absent employee. She made sure to hurry down the school steps as quickly as she could to avoid running into Max just in case he didn't have practice, and skirted down the back alleys in order to get to the shelter as inconspicuously as possible. Not that it mattered -- Max knew where she was sure to be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

She burst through the shelter doors which had been recently painted into a cat-shaped stained glass effect, and slung her bookbag down in the customary corner, giving a big smile to Alice. "Hey Alice. We have any new ones today?"

Alice's brow furrowed. "That was a little abrupt an entrance, Lacey. Was it a difficult day at school?"

"Oh, not really," she replied quickly. "I just wanted to come check on Stella. Is she getting along any better since last Thursday?"

Alice led Lacey to the kennels in the back room, opening one on the upper row. A dainty looking, long-limbed, yellow cat -- small to be two years old -- began to stir, rousting from a nap. In just a few seconds she was on her feet, nuzzling Lacey's hand for attention.

"Hello, Sweet Girl," Lacey cooed. "Have we found a forever home for you, yet?"

"Not yet I'm afraid," Alice sighed. "Everyone always wants the kittens."

"But she almost looks like a kitten," Lacey protested. "And she's so affectionate and easy-going."

"Well do remember, Dear, cats go less quickly than dogs do. Dogs are usually what's preferred. But people don't often recognize the virtues of cats. These beauties deserve to at least be loved and cherished, don't they?"

"Yes... they do." Lacey cradled Stella like a baby, as she was one of the few cats who would let her do this. "I'd still give anything if I could have one of my own."

At that moment the tinkling of the front door bell sounded. Hilda, Alice's grumpy associate, was up front today, but despite the dour-faced older lady's brusque mannerisms, she would be able to handle whatever was happening, so Lacey stayed put. This would either be someone wanting to adopt or drop off -- the second of which always broke Lacey's heart.

Alice had moved on to the next kennel, replacing food and water for pompous and wiley Sir George, while Lacey continued to nestle the purring Stella. "Someone will come for you soon," she whispered, giving the cat's forehead a quick kiss.

That's when Lacey heard a tiny chorus of mews coming from the front room.

"So you're dropping off?" she heard Hilda's low, no-nonsense voice.

"Guess so," Lacey heard a young man answer. "We-- well, I-- found these while I was checking on one of our rental properties this afternoon. They were laying in a box, just left behind by the family, so..."

She heard Hilda huff. "The things people do. Did they seem in distress? When were they last fed, do you know any of that?"

"... Not really," she heard the strikingly familiar voice reply. "My dad usually says call the pound when this happens, but... they're kittens, and I just thought maybe a shelter might be better..."

Unable to help herself, Lacey carried Stella with her and went up front to take a look at the new kittens. But before she was able to see them in their box, she saw none other than Adam Banks standing beside it.

Of course. His dad did own rental properties on this side of town. She would know, because she lived in one.

Adam lifted his eyes to meet hers and he froze. Lacey was pretty sure this was due to her being the bearer of his big pill secret, so she averted her eyes and looked toward the cardboard box.

Hilda sighed. "I see you didn't put a blanket or towel in here for them."

Adam shifted and opened his mouth to say something, but Hilda waved him off.

"Nevermind, you brought them here at least. I wonder how long it's been since they've eaten."

Lacey looked over Hilda's shoulders and saw two of the most beautiful calico kittens she'd ever seen. One was long-haired, the other medium-haired. They were walking shakily around the box, mewing no doubt in protest at being unable to find their mother.

"I... don't know. I'm not sure if the tenants took the mom... or what." Adam looked awkward, but concerned as he peered into the box.

"Alright, well..." Hilda clucked her tongue. "Lacey, will you get bottles ready? These little ones need full bellies."

Lacey glanced at Adam once more before going to the refrigerator in the breakroom and taking out the kitten formula, warming it in the microwave slightly before ensuring there were no hotspots, and bringing the bottles back out. She was surprised to see that Adam was still standing there, watching the kittens.

Alice came around the corner just then. "Hilda, Tippy didn't quite make it to the litter box again, and I've got to feed Rainbow. Can you help me out?"

Hilda took one of the bottles and pushed it toward Adam. "While you're here, might as well make use of you. Here, feed one of them." And with that, she bustled away.

Adam blinked, looking at the bottle for a minute.

Lacey figured this meant she was to feed the other kitten, so she set Stella down on the counter for a moment and took the shorter-haired kitten, who had more black in her than the other predominantly orange one. "You take that one," she instructed Adam. He did so without complaining, and Lacey was surprised at how gently he maneuvered the kitten to where he could fit the bottle in its mouth.

Both the kittens took to the bottles so quickly Lacey was surprised. Usually it took a bit of coaxing. These babies must both have been hungry. They couldn't have been older than about three weeks old.

"So what are you doing here?" Adam spoke first, glancing up at her then back down at the kitten in his arms, not seeming to care that he was getting fur all over his denim jacket and nice green polo shirt.

"I volunteer three times a week," Lacey replied, not looking at him, but keeping her eyes trained on the kitten.

After a moment, he spoke again. "I'm not some addict. You can look at me, unless you think you're too good to."

She heard the irritation dripping from his voice, and finally looked up. "I saw the game between Eden Hall and R.M. a few weeks ago. You got benched. What was that all about?"

Adam looked back down at the kitten, shifting it in his arms when it seemed to become distracted from the nipple. "It's just... I..." he stammered, taking a deep breath. "Look, I'm not ready to talk about it, alright? Just know I'm not taking something to... enhance myself or whatever."

"I know that," Lacey replied quickly. "Percocet is for pain. So what hurts?"

Adam looked back up at her, eyebrows raised. "I don't even know you. So it's hardly something I'm going to tell you about. Why do you even care so much?"

Lacey was at a loss. Her kitten seemed to have drunk enough for now, and kept moving her head from the nipple, so she set the bottle down and lifted the kitten up, placing it against her heart and rubbing its soft fur. "Can a person not care just because they do?"

Adam studied her quietly for a moment. He had a bold stare, his eyes round, blue pools that held a million emotions, a thousand untold stories in them. Lacey was unable to shift her gaze, but finally he did, evidently satisfied with her response for the moment.

"What are they? Boys or girls?" Adam pulled his bottle back as well, setting it on the counter next to Lacey's.

"Calicos are almost always girls," she replied. "When a male calico is born, it's a mutation and they usually have something wrong with them, like blindness..." Lacey sighed. "I wonder why anyone would leave two kittens this young behind."

Adam shrugged, holding up his kitten and examining it as it mewed. He smiled at it, the first smile she'd seen out of Adam this close. Lacey felt a draft blow through her heart suddenly, but swallowed hard, willing it to go back down.

"I don't know. People leave lots of stuff behind. It's just a shame that that also includes living things."

"So you're doing your dad's dirty work now?" Lacey inquired.

Adam glanced back at her. "You know, my dad's not a monster. I don't know why people think that. It seems like people don't care much for businessmen, and definitely not landlords. But Dad's fair. He can't help it that people don't always keep up with their rent and it falls back on us to keep the utilities up. So sometimes, we just have to be..." he searched for a word.

"Ruthless," Lacey finished for him. "I happen to be one of your dad's tenants. Well, my mom and I, and my sisters. And my mom can't always be prompt with rent. But she tries really hard, and sometimes she just needs a little mercy."

Adam looked over at her and stared for a moment. Her heart began to hammer.

"Do I know you?" he finally asked. "I mean from somewhere other than you being Shipley's girlfriend?"

Lacey took a deep breath, going behind the counter to find a blanket to put in the box for the kittens while they awaited a kennel. "Yeah... you do. Or did, kind of," she murmured.

Adam looked at her more closely. She felt her cheeks burn when she glanced up again. His sharp browline furrowed in thought.

"I'm... Lacey Primmer," she breathed. "I met you years ago when you played for the Hawks. Your dad was hassling my mom in the rink parking lot over rent, and... I was biting my nails." She let the rest of the story unfold in his mind, and watched as the memory seemed to flit through his eyes momentarily. "Oh... yeah. You bit them to bleeding, didn't you?"

Lacey took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, I... I did. I have this condition where I..." she started, but stopped abruptly. "It was just a thing, but thankfully I've outgrown it."

Adam still watched her. "I think I handed you something to clean up with."

Lacey nodded again, turning back to the kittens. "I should take these two back to find a kennel."

Adam still stood there, looking back at the kittens, seeming content to let the conversation go. After all, it sounded like they both had secrets to keep.

"Do you give them names?"

"We do," Lacey replied. "Got any suggestions since you brought them in?"

"Ah I don't know," Adam chuckled. "Whatever you think, I guess."

"Come on!" Lacey smiled. "I want to hear what you'd come up with. NHL players?"

"Nah," Adam shrugged. "They're girls. Um... Violet and Veronica. How's that?" he gave a half-smile.

Lacey laughed. "Violet and Veronica? Really?"

Adam's face went serious. "Violet was my grandmother's name. She died last year."

Lacey paused. "Oh, I'm... I'm so sorry, I had no idea."

It was Adam's turn to break out into a laugh. "Sorry, couldn't resist. My grandma's name is Laura and she's living with her third husband in Florida. In perfect health. Violet and Veronica just popped into my head. What's wrong with them?"

"Nothing!" Lacey tried to resist the urge to slap his arm, but that would have been too familiar a gesture. "But gee were you ever about to make me feel like a first-class jerk."

"Nah, I don't think you're a jerk. I know plenty of those." Adam shifted, reaching in his pocket and pulling out keys. "Alright, well... guess they're in good hands. So I'd better get back." He turned to go, then paused and turned back to Lacey.

"Did you not know you were biting your nails that short? How could you not tell they were bleeding?" he asked.

"I..." Lacey paused. "I don't know, I just zoned out I guess. It was nothing new, but... I never got to thank you. For being nice."

Adam shrugged, his tone surprising her with its gentleness. "Anybody would have done that."

No they wouldn't. And they hadn't.

"Still. Thanks."

Adam gave a nod. "Yeah, okay. Take good care of them, all right?"

"Yeah," Lacey smiled. He smiled back, though glanced off before turning and going out the door.

Lacey bit her lip and watched after him before turning back and picking up the box holding Violet and Veronica.

[ddaengyoonmin]

BTS Friends To Lovers Series (Jungkook)

Pairing: Swimmer!Jungkook x Swimmer! Reader

Genre: Smut, Fluff, Angst

Warnings: Cheating, Fingering, Nipple play, Praise kink, unprotected sex, outdoor sex

a/n: I included another member in this and we are just going to assume that they are the same age as Jungkook and the reader for this fic. 

Song Inspo: Swim- Chase Atlantic;  Youth Water- Manila grey

Word Count: 8k (Wow yikes so much for these being drabbles lmao)

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Weightlessness, the cold water holding your body up.  Nothing else matters but this, your mind completely focused on pushing your muscles to their limit, to victory.  Your arms moving with purpose, propelling you towards the touch pad, you are staring up at the bright lights on the ceiling through the water droplets splashing onto your goggles.  Red flags that hang over the pool now come into your view and you know what that means, you are only a few arm lengths away from the finish.  You use every last bit of your strength and glide with an outstretched arm, reaching your destination.  

As soon as your hand hits you instantly tear off your goggles and whip your head around to the screen high on the wall to your right.  Adrenaline flooding through your body. 

1: Y/L/N 00:57.96

Your face lit up instantly and you pumped a fist into the air, you grabbed on to the bars under the starting block and pulled yourself out of the pool, speed walking over to your team who were cheering and hugging you. 

“I broke a minute!” you squealed “Oh my god I can’t believe it” 

You’d been aiming for breaking a minute in your 100 yard backstroke your entire high school experience.  Now finally at 18 and a senior only a few weeks away from graduating, you’d finally done it and by way more than you thought you could.  You were so proud of your hard work paying off

Your spring team coach shot you a thumbs up and a wide grin from the other side of the pool. 

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

After the meet was over your coach pulled you aside with an excited look on her face, putting a letter into your hand. 

“There was a scout here from Bangtan University, and they think you have potential.  They are inviting you to a summer swim training camp for incoming freshmen and if you can get to 55.0 by the end of summer you’d get a full ride scholarship.  Even if you don’t make the time, they want you on the team and are offering a pretty nice scholarship” she clapped her hands together. 

You clapped a hand over your mouth

 “Seriously?” 

You hadn’t thought that you were anything that amazing, you weren’t the best swimmer on the team overall but you couldn’t argue, that backstroke time you’d just swam was quite impressive.  If this team saw potential in you, you weren’t going to pass up the opportunity to prove yourself. 

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

You had pulled into the parking lot of the university’s athletic center, many others were pulling in and walking over to the pool doors.  You felt so much excitement and nervousness at meeting your new teammates. 

You noticed that there were also men that were in the crowd of swimmers making their way to the pool doors, you hadn’t realized this was going to be a co-ed training.  You’d only swam with your girls from high school and it was the same team since you were in elementary school.  One of your best friends had also been offered a place on a college team, but to a different school.  You were going to miss her a lot, but you’d still get to see each other occasionally, and you were excited for this new adventure.   

You grabbed your bag that held your towel and gear and followed the crowd to the pool. 

After getting changed and admiring the incredible size of the facility you walked out to the pool where you could see the rest of the team gathered around a white board waiting for the coach to give further instruction. 

You found an open space to sit down on the floor next to a blonde tall man with broad shoulders, the perfect figure for a swimmer, you wondered if he did butterfly.  His shape and muscles seem to be very fitting for that stroke.  He was shirtless and you had to try to not make things awkward by staring at him or any of the other shirtless men scattered among the swimmers here. 

The man turned to you and extended a hand for you to shake.  

“I’m Jin” he smiled at you. 

You shook his hand and returned his friendly smile “y/n” 

The coach now started a speech introducing himself to the group and talking about the types of things that would take place here at the training camp, you’d get to compete against other colleges in practice meets and you’d be doing many time trials throughout the summer to see how you were improving. 

As the coach was starting to explain the workout for the day, the sound of a door slamming loudly from the direction of the locker rooms. 

A tall man with gorgeous jet black hair walked out from the men's locker room.  He was wearing the same tight fitting speedo that most all the other men were wearing and was wearing a white warm-up jacket that had a blue stripe down the side.  You let your eyes linger on how it was completely unzipped and exposing his extremely sculpted and muscular chest.  

“Ah Mr. Jeon.” the coach glared. “Thanks for gracing us with your presence today.” 

You half expected the coach to yell at the man and tell him to get out.  Showing up to your first day of practice was quite rude and didn’t really show good commitment to the team in your opinion.  

The man just silently stood back behind the rest of the team with his arms crossed, nodding for the coach to continue.  He was quite cocky you thought.  He must be really good to be able to get away with an attitude like that.  And as rude as it was, you also found it slightly amusing. 

The rest of practice went well, you work your hardest and tried to prove yourself, you ended up becoming the lane leader for your lane and were quite proud of that.  

There were eight lanes and it was split up by your times,  the fastest swimmers all in lane eight and the slowest in lane one.  You had surprisingly landed yourself in lane three which had surprised you, you weren’t the worst, and that was something!  

That cocky man Mr. Jeon had ended up in lane eight, and you noticed he was lane leader at that.  You were right, he had the speed to back up his cocky attitude.  The tall blonde named Jin was also in lane eight right behind him, so he must be the second best swimmer on your team. 

After practice was over you decided to step out of your comfort zone and approach him. 

He was pulling himself out of the pool to sit on the edge, pushing his wet strands of hair out of his face and breathing heavily from the workout. 

“Hey” you said with an awkward wave. 

He glanced up at you, raising an eyebrow wondering what you might want from him. 

“I-I just... wanted to say, I s-saw you swim and, y-you did a really good job, I mean, you swim well.  Your stroke is p-pretty, I mean pretty good.” Fuck why were you being so fucking awkward.  You weren’t very good at making new friends, but something in you just really wanted to get to know this man, and hoped that maybe he could help you improve on your times so that you could get that scholarship. 

He chuckled at your bumbling around. 

“Ah, Thank you” he stood and started to walk away. 

“What's your stroke!” you yelled after him.  

He turned and smiled “Freestyle.” he said simply, starting to walk away again.  He probably thinks you’re a complete weirdo but swimmers were always hungry, so...here goes nothing…

“Wanna grab some dinner?” 

He spun around again.  “Uh,” he thought for a moment “Yeah sure, why not.  Meet me outside the doors after we get changed, did you have something in mind?” 

Shit, you had nothing in mind.  “I was thinking pasta?” 

He put a hand to his chin in thought, “Okay, I know a good place.” 

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

You followed in your car behind Jungkook’s car to the place he had suggested for the two of you to eat and then got a booth seat at the restaurant, sitting across from each other. 

Jungkook ordered a big glass of milk and you chuckled a bit at that.  

“Good for the muscles” He shrugged cutely with a smirk. 

“So how long have you been swimming?” you asked, trying to make some small talk and swimming was basically your only conversation point even with your non swimmer friends. 

“My whole life pretty much”

“Yeah me too! I took one year off where I tried track but, I discovered I’m more of a water creature” you laughed.

Jungkook stared at you, narrowing his eyes.  You thought you must’ve been being awkward or offended him somehow without realizing it. 

“I feel like I’ve seen you before…” Jungkook says. 

Oh. 

“Um, not sure…” you didn’t quite know what to say. 

“4th grade! Summer swim team!” he exclaims.  “y/n y/l/n right?” 

Oh my god, you had actually done a co-ed swim team once when you were younger at a pool your family had a membership to.  You had totally forgotten about that. 

“Jeon...Jungkook!?” it suddenly clicked.  “Holy shit, yes, I remember you” 

He grinned and took a large drink of his milk leaving an adorable milk mustache on his upper lip. 

The two of you talked for the rest of the meal reminiscing on your memories of the team you were on together.  He had changed so much from the skinny dorky boy you’d known.  He was a man now and had grown up well. 

Suddenly he stopped mid conversation as his phone rang, he put up a finger and mouthed a sorry.  

“Hey hon” he answered. “Yeah-” he nodded “Okay I’ll be there soon, Just finishing up a meal with an old friend I reconnected with today…” he paused as the voice on the other end of the line said something “Yep, see you soon babe, love ya” he clicked the button to hangup. 

“Girlfriend?” you asked, slightly jealous for reasons you couldn’t quite understand, it’s not like you had any place to feel that way. You’d only just re-met him today, and he was an attractive man, of course he had a girlfriend. 

“Yep, I gotta hurry up and get going, she’s had a rough day at work” 

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

The next couple weeks you went to practice every day besides Sunday and each day you and Jungkook would end up hanging out for a bit after. Sometimes going out to eat, and sometimes you’d stay late for him to help give you some tips on your swimming form.  You were happy to have made a friend like him.  You feel like you’d already improved so much. 

Today was the first practice meet you were going to have with another school and It was a home meet.  You were nervous but also couldn’t wait to see how much you’d improved.  

Right before you were about to enter the locker room to get changed Jungkook yelled out your name and motioned for you to come over to where he stood.   He was next to a skinny, curly haired blonde woman with glasses, she was dressed all in pink, tiny hot pink shorts, a tiny baby pink crop top that exposed her tanned stomach, and a pink headband holding back her perfect hair. 

“Y/n this is my girlfriend Missy” Jungkook motioned towards the girl.

You tried to give your friendliest smile and extended your hand out to the girl.  She didn’t return your gesture and instead rolled her big blue eyes slightly and looked you up and down while blowing a big bubble from the gum she was chewing loudly.  When it popped she turned to Jungkook

 “Kookieee, I don’t wanna wait in the stands for you, it’s way too hot up there.  Can’t I just be with you in the pool area” She spoke in a ditzy voice while she pouted, crossing her arms and pushing her perfect perky breasts up as she did, almost as if she was trying to use them to convince Jungkook to cave into her. 

“Missy I told you, you aren’t allowed in the pool area during a meet, I promise it won’t be too bad up in the stands.  Do you need some money to go to concessions and buy a cold drink or something” he whispered, but it was loud enough for you to hear.  

You shifted uncomfortably, debating on whether you should just leave to go get ready for the meet now.  Jungkook’s girlfriend obviously didn’t care for meeting you, and you didn’t quite care for her at all. 

Missy groaned childishly and just put a flat palm out towards Jungkook, which had him scrambling through his pockets and pulling out his wallet to put probably five times more money than she needed in her hand for the drink.  Yet she still held her hand out until Jungkook put even more money into her hand.  Then she instantly spun around on her heels and left. 

“Nice meeting you!” you yelled after her, well aware that you were lying. 

You turned to Jungkook with wide eyes. 

“Wow.  Whipped.” you chuckled. 

He sheepishly ran a hand through his hair, “She’s actually awesome once you get to know her.” 

You shrugged, “I’ll take your word for it” though you can’t imagine anything about that girl that would end up being a redeeming quality. 

“It really does get hot up in the stands…” he tried to stand up for his girlfriend. 

You chuckled “Well you gave her enough for like twenty cold drinks so I think she’ll be fine” 

Jungkook and You went to your separate locker rooms to get ready and then out to the pool.

The meet was going extremely well, you had placed in second in the last heat of the backstroke and improved a lot on your time just in the few weeks you’d been training.  You couldn’t be happier. 

It came time for Jungkook to swim the 200 Free, you made sure to stand on the edge of the pool  with the rest of the teammates where he could see when he went to take a breath, while you cheered enthusiastically for him. 

“Go Go Goooo Jungkook!” you yelled, jumping up and down in your spot.  He was amazing, his muscular arms pulled him forward through the water so gracefully, he was at least a full body length ahead of the other swimmers in his heat.  It was incredible watching him. 

You happened to glance up into the crowd to see Missy sitting on her phone, sipping on a lemonade and texting, not even looking up from it once to see how Jungkook was doing. 

It irritated you quite a bit.  Why was she even here?  

Jungkook finished in first, no surprise.  He seemed happy with his time, a wide grin on his face while he was hopping out of the pool.

You ran over to him, both hands out for a double high five that he returned instantly.  

The rest of the meet went well.  Your college ended up winning overall which put everyone in high spirits. 

After getting dressed and exiting the locker room out to the lobby of the aquatic center you decided you wanted to at least try to extend an olive branch to Jungkook’s less than pleasant girlfriend.  You didn’t want to lose Jungkook as a friend over something as silly as not getting along with Missy. 

You found Jungkook standing in the lobby looking around. 

“Hey you!” you smiled as you approached him “Do you and Missy wanna go out for a celebratory dinner on me?” 

“That sounds awesome! I just gotta find Missy.  Did you see her come down from the stands?” he looked confused as he scanned the crowd for her. 

“I didn’t, I’ll help you look around for her” 

He nodded and the two of you walked through the crowd to try and find her.  She was nowhere to be seen and the crowd was slowly getting thinner and thinner so it should’ve made it easier to see her.  Odd. 

After about ten minutes of searching the whole crowd was gone and it was only you and Jungkook standing in the lobby. 

“Okay, y/n, I’m kind of nervous.  Where could she be?”  Jungkook's eyes were full of worry. 

“Maybe she wasn’t feeling well and went home early?” you suggested. 

“She would’ve texted me…” his brow furrowed as he checked his phone to see if maybe he had missed a message or call. 

The two of you started to walk some of the hallways of the building looking around.  

Then an odd noise hit your ears, there was some giggling coming from a storage room. 

“That sounds like...What would she be doing in here?” Jungkook gripped the door handle and swung it open. 

His eyes almost flying out of their sockets at the sight of Missy completely naked her legs wrapped around your teammate Jin. 

“What the fuck!” Jungkook screamed angrily. Causing Missy and Jin to realize for the first time that they had been walked in on. 

Missy instantly jumped off of Jin, and Jin scrambled to cover himself up. 

“Jungkook wait!” Missy squealed as Jungkook slammed the door shut on the two of them, shaking slightly while he stomped down the hall away from them.  

You followed right behind him silently, not really knowing what to say. 

“Babe wait!” suddenly Missy was sprinting down the hall after the two of you, grabbing Jungkook by the shoulder trying to turn him around to face her.  He shook her off and kept walking, trying to just make it out the doors of the building and to his car, wanting to get as far away from her as possible. 

“Jungkook, please I can explain!” Missy was sobbing. 

“Missy.  Maybe now’s not the time.” You softly spoke at her in a serious tone. 

“Sorry bitch but no one was talking to you.” Missy snapped at you. 

At that Jungkook finally spun around to face her. 

“Don’t you dare Missy.  You’re the bitch right now okay? And I never want to fucking see your face again.  So please, leave me alone, go home.” he growled. 

Missy froze on the spot, Jungkook had never spoken to her so harshly before.  You felt that she deserved even worse than just some mean words after what she’d done, but that's none of your business. 

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

You drove Jungkook home, telling him it was probably not a good idea for him to drive himself due to the state of mind he was in, and he reluctantly agreed. 

You pulled up to his house and the two of you sat in silence for a moment before Jungkook spoke. 

“I was with her since eighth grade…” he choked out, covering his face with his hands as he was starting to tear up. 

You put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.  Wishing that you had the right words. 

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

Jungkook missed practice for the next two days.  You texted him asking where he was both days and each time he answered with a simple ‘don’t feel well sry’ 

When he finally returned to practice he seemed to be pushing himself even harder than he was before.  You wondered if it was hard for him to swim in the same lane as Jin.

And your curiosity was answered when you were taking a breather after a set and heard some commotion going on from lane eight. 

“What the fuck did you just say?” You heard Jungkook screaming. 

“I said, it’s not my fault your girl is a SLUT” Jins voice boomed

You looked over to see Jungkook starting to pull his fist back, he wasn’t able to land his punch before a few of the other teammates from the lane were holding him back. 

The coach ran over and tried to defuse the situation. 

“That's it. Everyone out of the water!” The coach yelled to the whole team.  You all hopped out and went to sit on the benches or the floor to wait for further instruction. 

“You two.  Up on the blocks” the coach motioned for Jin and Jungkook to comply with his orders. 

“100 Freestyle.” the coach informed them. 

The two men glared at each other and hopped on the block. 

You thought this was probably a good way to settle things without violence.  Jungkook was the fastest on the team, and freestyle wasn’t even Jin’s stroke, so it would feel good for him to beat Jin after all that went down. 

“Ready. Set…” The coach blew the whistle to signal the start. 

Jungkook dove off the block, his arms outstretched and strong as he hit the water.  

You stood up and yelled “Gooooo Jungkook!” then motioned for the rest of the team to stand and cheer.  Most of them did, all cheering for Jungkook. 

But...the cheers started to die down on the last lap.  Because...Jungkook was losing? No.  Not good. 

Jin touched the wall about a few seconds before Jungkook, a big smirk on his face as he turned to him. 

“Better luck next time buddy.” he chuckled. 

Jungkook was in shock. He...lost, he never lost…

He hopped out of the pool fuming, stomping off to the locker room, kicking a stack of kickboards and knocking them all across the pool floor on his way in. 

You covered your mouth with your hand.  Poor Jungkook.  Your heart was breaking for your friend and you had no idea what to do. 

After practice was over you were walking out to your car and noticed that Jungkook’s car was still there.  You’d thought he left but he must still be somewhere back in the building. 

You decided to go and find him, returning back to the pool area and searching around.  Everyone else including the coach had already left, so you decided you would take a chance and check the men’s locker room. 

When you entered you heard a shower running and walked towards the sound.

You found Jungkook sitting on the grey tile floor with his back against the wall, eyes closed, letting the water fall onto his face. 

“J-Jungkook, are you okay…” You said quietly. 

He jumped, and snapped his eyes open, wiping the water out of them quickly to see you better. 

“Shit y/n you scared me.” he whispered. 

“Sorry, I just saw you were still here and wanted to check on you” you explained. 

He nodded, bending his head down and letting the water fall on the back of his neck. 

“Well, I’m fine” he spoke quietly. 

You were still wearing your suit under your clothes, so you decided to take off your sweats and jacket and sit next to him in the shower. 

“This is probably not very sanitary” you laughed as you sat down. 

“The water washes the germs away” he mumbled, his head still down on his knees. 

“I’m not sure I buy that one, but I’ll let you have it” you chuckled, leaning your head towards him and resting it on his shoulder. 

“I’m really sorry Jungkook” you got more serious. 

He lifted his head a bit, turning to look at you.  “I just don’t understand what I did wrong.  I treated her like a queen, I gave her everything.” he sighed “I haven’t seen her since the meet, but I have to swim with Jin right next to me every day now.  And hes so fucking smug about it, and now on top of everything hes somehow faster than me” Jungkook spoke with his hands emphasizing his anger. 

“He’s definitely not faster than you, I think you’re off your game a bit cuz of everything that happened.” 

“Still…” Jungkook sighed “That was embarrassing and just the icing on the cake of the worst week of my life” 

He leaned his head so it was resting against yours. 

“Hmm, I might have an idea on how to cheer you up!” you grinned, lifting your head and meeting his eyes. 

He looked confused and then suddenly he seemed to form an idea of what you might have meant. 

He brought his face close to yours, and before you could tell him that wasn’t what you meant his lips had landed on your own.  He tasted like chlorine, and his lips were so soft.  As much as you enjoyed it, you pulled back quickly. 

“I-I didn’t mean.  I wasn’t trying to say that…” you stuttered out in shock that you let that happen.  He was vulnerable right now after having his heart broken, you shouldn’t take advantage of that. 

Jungkook looked mortified, “You didn’t want me...fuck.  Y/n I’m so sorry.  I’m not thinking right” he shook his head embarrassed. 

“It’s fine Jungkook” you chuckled “It was...nice actually.  I just don’t think we should, we’re friends, and you are going through something.” 

He still looked ashamed of acting on what he assumed you had wanted “So...what did you mean?” 

“I was thinking a midnight star swim?” 

Jungkooks face lit up, “Oh my god I haven’t done that in years” 

There was an outdoor pool in your town that most of the swimmers knew how to sneak into at night.  There weren’t any cameras or security, and the fence was easy to jump.  It was up on a hill and if you went on a clear night, it had the most beautiful view of the stars.  So everyone called it a star swim. 

“I’m so down for that” Jungkook nodded excitedly.  “Oh, and thanks for not being weird about…” he trailed off looking down. 

You chuckled, “Weird about what?”  you smirked knowingly. 

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

It was about 11:30 when you pulled up to Jungkook’s house.  You hadn’t stopped thinking about the kiss since it happened.  At first you really had planned on brushing it off like nothing happened, but the memory of the feeling and taste of him wouldn’t stop pushing itself into the front of your mind. It was so persistent that you almost cancelled your plans with him, faking being sick or something like that.  But, he had thanked you for not making it weird, and that’s exactly what you’d be doing if you cancelled plans.  Just pretend it never happened. You told yourself.  Yet that seemed so impossible. 

Jungkook was skipping out to the car not long after you arrived.  He seemed to be in better spirits, which is exactly what this was for, you were quite relieved to see a smile on his face as he hopped into the passenger seat. 

“Sup Y/n” 

“Sup Jungkook” you chuckled

-----------

As was usual for star swims you parked down the road from the pool and not in the parking lot so as not to be suspicious.  The two of you walked in the dark towards your destination. 

You didn’t want to use your phone’s flashlight as you walked just in case someone saw.  As common as it was, it was not in any way legal for the two of you to be going into the pool at this hour, and you were slightly nervous about getting caught. 

But, because of the lack of light you happened to trip on a dip in the road you hadn’t noticed.  You fell forward and let out a small gasp, but before you got close to hitting the ground, two strong arms wrapped around you and caught you just in time.  Jungkook pulled you up and steadied you. 

“Woah there” Jungkook whispered. 

You awkwardly stood up straight, quite embarrassed of your clumsiness. 

“Shit, thanks…” 

“Here,” Jungkook grabbed your hand “I have good night vision, I’ll guide you” 

For some reason, the small and seemingly platonic gesture of his fingers intertwined with yours made your heart skip a beat.  The kiss popped into your mind again.  

No, he's just confused because of everything that happened with his ex, you aren’t going to let yourself just be a rebound, he’s just your friend! Your mind tried to reason with your heart.  Your heart didn’t seem to want to listen, it continued to flutter as you walked hand in hand with Jungkook the rest of the way. 

When you got to the silver chain link fence Jungkook motioned for you to go first, offering to help give you a boost up.  You declined and pulled yourself up easily,

 “You forget I’m pretty strong too Kook” You winked at him as you landed on the other side. 

There was something behind the smile and soft, admiring look he gave you through the holes in the metal fence where he now stood opposite you.  Maybe your stupid heart was making something out of nothing, but something flickered over his expression, that seemed like...nah, it couldn’t be.  

He hopped over effortlessly and landed next to you.  He almost instantly pulled his white t-shirt up and over his head. 

You’d seen him shirtless so many times at practice, but being here at night, and alone with him had you feeling slightly shy.  Trying not to look his way you decided to get undressed into your suit that was under your clothes as well. 

You cursed yourself for deciding it was a good idea to wear a skimpy bright red two piece.  You thought it would be more comfortable, but, you should’ve just worn your completely unattractive practice one piece suit.  Then you wouldn’t have to notice the way Jungkook’s eyes were bugging out of his skull upon seeing your figure.  

You noticed him bite at his lower lip and gulp, not being able to tear his eyes away from you.  

“Ready to swim?” You asked, hoping to snap him out of his trance. 

He nodded, his eyes still glued to the skin right above the fabric of your bikini top. 

You decided to take his view away, jumping into the pool quickly.  

Jungkook wasn’t far behind, taking off his shorts so he was wearing only his tight workout speedo, then doing a dive into the pool. 

You swam over to the edge of the pool, resting your arms on the side and laying out on your back to stare up at the sky.  It was peaceful and calm, the dark black sky was lit up with sparkling lights, and they reflected almost like a mirror in the water of the pool.

It was one of the most beautiful sights in the world to you.  

Jungkook slowly swam over to you, not wanting to disturb the stillness of the water and break the calm glass like reflection of the stars.  It did slightly, but it almost made it more beautiful, the ripple in reflection now looked like the stars were dancing. 

You felt Jungkook’s arm rest against your own. 

“I’m not sorry that I kissed you” he whispered, almost like it wasn’t meant for you to hear.  Yet when you snapped your gaze over to him, he was looking right at you.  Staring at your lips, his eyes full of want. 

“Jungkook...You just got out of a super long relationship that ended badly.  I don’t think you’re thinking clearly” 

Jungkook sighed. “Honestly, she was so controlling and I always just did whatever she said.  I never realized how much of my life was just me following her orders until I left her.  It’s like I didn’t fully understand everything I was missing out on in life because of her.  I’m upset, mostly because I realize how much time I’ve wasted not being with someone good and kind who actually cared about me the way I care about them…” 

Your heart was beating wildly and you had to take some deep and quiet breaths, trying to not make it noticeable to Jungkook how much he was affecting you. 

“So I think I’m actually thinking more clearly than I have in quite a long time.” He smiled at you. 

“I hope you find someone who treats you right Jungkook, you deserve it” you muttered, continuing your efforts to ignore that he was now staring over your whole body hungrily.  

“Yeah…” he murmured, “They say sometimes there’s moments in life where you realize everything you’ve been searching for has been right in front of you the whole time.  I feel like maybe I…”

You suddenly jumped out of the pool, trying to stop him before he got any further with that thought. 

You ran over to the diving board and sat on the very edge, your legs dangling off the edge. 

“Um, this way...we don’t mess up the view with our movements.” You explained your awkward and sudden escape. 

Jungkook sighed and got out of the water as well.

“Why are you avoiding me y/n.  I thought you weren’t going to make things weird after the kiss” he spoke as he started to walk over to the diving board. 

“Shit. I-I’m not trying to make things weird, it's just, I don’t want you to think…It just sounds like you think that...” 

“That you’d want to kiss me again?” his hands rested on the metal bars on either side of the board.  He was now standing right at the opposite end from where you sat. You turned around to face him, your back now to the pool with your legs still dangling off the edge.

“Exactly.” 

“And you really don’t want to?” he cocked his head to the side. 

You bit your lower lip nervously, of course you wanted to again.  Look at this gorgeous man, shirtless, muscular, and he’s almost begging for it.  But, this is your friend, you couldn’t just be his rebound.  So you regrettably settled on that as your next words.

“I’m not interested in being your rebound Jungkook” you almost snapped, realizing how harsh that came out, you added in a softer, “Sorry” 

Jungkook seemed to not have lost his determination though.  He slowly walked towards where you sat.  He teased for a second like he was going to bounce the board and make you fly off.

“Don’t you dare!” you giggled. 

Jungkook smirked, when he reached only a few steps in front of you he sat down facing you and hanging his legs off of either side of the board. 

“If we hooked up, I wouldn’t think of you as a rebound…” Jungkook said quietly.

You sighed “Ugh, Jungkook, I still think it’d be a bad idea” 

“Is it because you actually like me?” he said raising one eyebrow, “And you’re thinking ‘oh if I give into him now he’ll never be serious with me,’” he said trying to mimic your voice.  

You reached out and smacked him on his arm, “My god, you are full of yourself aren’t you” 

Jungkook let out a loud laugh and scooted forward on the bench a bit closer to you, your knees were touching now. 

“But, what if I told you that I liked you.  Like... actually liked you.  At first I thought we were just good friends...but I think I’ve felt this way since that first day of practice.  So maybe I deserved getting cheated on like that.  In a way, I was cheating in my heart by liking you the way I do.” 

You really didn’t know what to say.  

“I...don’t know if it’s quite the same thing.  I’m not really any kind of relationship expert.  But, you definitely didn’t deserve what happened to you.  That’s all I know” You said then suddenly the entirety of what he said hit you.  You wanted to just toss yourself off the edge of this board, he really just said he liked you?

“You like me?” You said with your voice wavering. 

“Ah you got that part now huh?” He chuckled. 

“Jungkook are you sure…” your eyes widened as you trailed your gaze over his sinful half naked figure sitting in front of you. 

“Quit trying to fight it y/n.  Let's just live in the moment, huh?” 

Fuck.  You really were getting mentally exhausted by trying so hard to hold back your feelings.  You liked him, a lot, maybe not right away but now? Definitely. You leaned in close to him, hoping you weren’t about to ruin everything by caving in. 

Jungkook’s mouth pulled into a smile as you inched closer to him.  

“That’s my girl” he whispered, reaching a hand to the back of your neck to pull you in closer.  His lips touched yours gentle and smooth,  the kisses he pressed into you were so innocent compared to the way his eyes had been roaming you hungrily.  

You started to speed the kisses up, running a hand through his soft locks of pitch black hair.  He groaned softly into your mouth as you touched him. 

You felt an ache in your core just from these small kisses and touches, you couldn’t tell if you were wet from swimming or from your own arousal, you were deeper into your feelings for him than you’d even realized.  

Jungkook’s hands gracefully trailed down from your head to your sides, the feeling of his fingers tracing your bare skin sent a shiver throughout your body.  You whimpered slightly when his hands reached the fabric of your bikini bottoms, he reached under your ass and pulled you up from where you sat and onto his lap. 

The board bounced up and down at the movement, causing you to bounce on Jungkook’s lap.  He grunted softly at the feeling. 

You could feel the hardness of his erection through his swim shorts, and you started to roll your hips against him, enjoying the friction and pressure that you could feel on your clit through the fabric of your suit. 

If you had any doubts about whether or not you should be doing this, the feeling of his hands starting to untie the string of your suit that was resting on your neck, had washed them all away. 

Your top fell down, exposing you to him.  He inhaled sharply and shook his head.  

“I imagined this so many times.  And you just had to go and be better than any fantasy I could’ve come up with” He said breathily. 

“You’re being cheesy” you giggled. 

“I mean it though” he smiled, giving your breasts a small squeeze. Then taking each of your nipples between the tip of his thumb and index finger, pinching them lightly.

You moaned out lewdly and tossed your head back at the pleasurable feeling. 

“Fuck” you hissed. 

“You like that baby?” Jungkook smirked, already knowing the answer to that question but wanting to hear you say it.  Needing to know how it would sound to hear unending praises fall from your lips. 

“I love it Jungkook” you gasp as he pinches you again, then brought his lips to one of your breasts, trading places with his fingers and nipping at you lightly.

“How much?” he asked, his breath warm against your tits as he spoke. 

“So much, I love it so much Jungkook, you’re amazing. I want you so badly” you admitted.  

Jungkook moaned against your skin at your words. 

“Don’t feel shy to let me know you’re enjoying yourself babe.  I wanna know how good I make you feel” he whispered, pulling himself from your chest and planting sloppy kisses on your neck. 

Jungkook started to move you off of his chest and lay you back on the diving board.  It shook up and down at the two of you moving around.  You laughed as you almost fell off at one point, Jungkook having to steady you with his hands on your hips. 

He hovered over where you laid, his hands gripping the edge of the board in a plank position, and gave you a quick peck on your lips. He then pushed himself up, standing between your legs that hung off the side of the board.  He pulled his swim shorts down quickly and stood confidently with his hands on his hips showing himself off to you with a smirk. 

You giggled wildly at his cockiness, which he mistook for you giggling at his...cock. 

“Hey now.” He growled crossing his arms against his toned bare chest. “Don’t make me bounce you off this thing” 

“Oh my god, no It’s just that you’re so cute.  Displaying yourself with that confidence” You assured him. 

“Well, I have reason to be confident no?” he moved his eyebrows up and down, and motioning his hands down around his hips, gesturing to his erection.  He wasn’t wrong...He had plenty of reason to feel proud of the cock that was hanging between his legs, long and large.  You’d never been with someone as big as him and you started to feel slight nervousness as you anticipated and hoped for the feeling of the stretch. 

Jungkook got down and balanced himself on his knees between your legs, pulling the string on one of the sides of your bikini bottoms.  

You felt the fabric being lifted away after he’d untied it, and you were completely bare and exposed to him now. 

He growled lowly.  

“Fuck you have a perfect pussy” 

“And you have a perfect cock” you returned. 

He smiled widely, you had a feeling that a strong feeling of pride grew in him at your words.  And you were right, any bit of praise that you gave him made him even more excited to dive into your pussy and feel you around him, he wanted to hear how good he made you feel. 

He gripped himself in one hand, trying his best to stay balanced as his other hand started to lightly touch your entrance. 

You gasped at his touch, and tossed your head back,  you were right on the edge of the board and the feeling that one wrong move could throw both of you off into the water was scary and exciting. 

You were seeing stars, literally as you stared up into the sky while two Jungkook’s fingers entered you, moving around and stretching you out, preparing you to take him. 

“That feels so good Jungkook” you moaned.  His ego swelled at that and it only made him want to work harder to please you, increasing the speed of his fingers. 

“Fuck” you whimpered out, gripping the sides of the board and trying not to squirm too much. 

Suddenly, he pulled his fingers out, you pouted at the feeling of emptiness and loss of his touch. 

But he was now pulling you on top of him and flipping the two of you around so he was laying in the spot where you were just seconds ago. 

The sight was nothing less than magical. 

You were sitting on top of him with your hands on his chest, the moonlight shining on his skin making him almost glow.  And framing his perfect face on every side from below was the dark water reflecting the stars from above, it looked like something straight out of an artsy indie movie.  

You lifted your hips slightly and he brought a hand to position his cock at your entrance. 

You lowered yourself down onto him excruciatingly slow, but you wanted to give yourself the chance to adjust to his thickness. 

His hands squeezed your ass tightly as you sank down onto him, and he threw his head back in pleasure, biting down hard on his lower lip. 

“Fuckkkk” he hissed once you had him completely sheathed inside your pussy. 

You started to rock your hips slowly, not wanting to move too much and bounce the two of you off and down into the water.   

But Jungkook seemed to be a bit overtaken by the feeling and started to grab your hips and lift you up, slamming you down onto him.  He set a steady pace of bringing your hips up and down onto him, and it was the most incredible feeling ever.  Every time you took him fully at that speed, the board would bounce and cause a second in and out, causing him to thrust up into you effortlessly. 

“Jungkook, oh my god” you screamed out.  Jungkook grinned widely, loving how good he was making you feel.  It felt like a dream having you here riding him. 

His hands continued to guide you up and down on his cock, the board bouncing made it hard to keep a steady pace now.  

“You gonna cum for me baby? Use my cock however you need y/n” Jungkook moaned, releasing his grip on you and putting his hands behind his head.  You swore he was flexing his biceps right now.  So cocky, you thought.  Though, you couldn’t deny, he was so fucking hot like his.  He always seemed to have the goods to back up that cocky attitude of his. 

You started to bounce and roll your hips around in small circles, it took a lot of effort to continue without having any support for your knees, you really had to thank yourself for all those ab exercises you’d been working on.  

His cock was hitting you in all the right places now and you felt yourself approaching your high.  

“J-Jungkook, I’m gonna cum” you whimpered. 

“Yeah baby? My cock is gonna make you cum?” he smirked.  

You nodded biting your lip while you stared down at the god like man below you. 

“Say it.” he growled.  

You figured it didn’t hurt to indulge him, he really was rocking your world right now. 

“Jungkook, your fucking amazing, giant, sexy, cock is gonna make my pussy cum” you moaned.

“Fuck, hurry up if you’re gonna keep talking like that” he chuckled. “I’m so fucking close too y/n” 

After a few more bounces your orgasm was on you, it ran like a tidal wave over your whole body, nothing you’d ever felt before could compare to the incredible feeling rushing over you.  

Your walls tightened and spasmed around Jungkook’s cock, you had stilled your movements and fell down onto his chest, but he kept moving himself into you quickly, approaching his own orgasm.  His hips rolling up into you were greatly assisted by the bouncing of the board.  

He gripped your ass hard and sped up even faster, his face contorting into an expression of intense pleasure. 

“F-Fuck, Y/n baby” he groaned loudly, his nails biting into your ass cheeks and his head burried into to crook of your neck as he came. 

At that moment he completely lost control of his balance, and you, who were also overcome with post orgasm bliss were in no place to steady the two of you. 

And before you knew it both of you, clutched tightly onto one another, and him still twitching and emptying hot cum inside of you, were rolling off the board and crashing into the water. 

The two of you were now completely submerged, bodies still intertwined and holding each other tightly, Jungkook brought you into a passionate kiss as you rose back up to the surface. 

Once you reached air again he slowly pulled out of you and you both laughed wildly. 

“Holy shit” you threw your head back and floated on your back savoring this blissful moment. 

You turned to Jungkook who did an excited forward somersault in the water, which caused you to laugh even more. 

“Well that's how fun that was for me” he chuckled as he paddled over to where you floated and kissed you on the cheek. 

“You’re a dork” you shook your head. 

“And amazing...giant...and sexy” he listed your previous words while he wiggled his eyebrows up and down. 

“Yes that too” 

“And completely falling for you…” he whispered. 

You stared up to the stars, you swore you saw a shooting star right then. 

You don’t know what you could possibly wish for in this moment.  Everything already felt so perfect. 

You were completely falling for him too.