#crook with a surprisingly good heart yes that is my character type

[agentmika]

moist von lipwig...he's my best friend, he’s my pal, he’s my homeboy, my rotten soldier, my sweet cheese, my good time boy-

[rin-itoshi]

kisses . genshin impact (pt. 2)

> summary: places the genshin boys kiss you other than the lips (ft. bennett, chongyun, razor, xiao, xingqiu, zhongli)

> content: fluff , gn!reader , ooc(?idk)

here’s part one!

# BENNETT

where: your palm!

why: this man does not know how to stfu, so when you have to forcefully shush him, your palm is the best spot for his lips to kiss.

“It’s awfully quiet today,” you murmured as you turned on your heels, hearing the whirlwind of a boy coming your way. He nearly tumbled—so close to crashing at your feet but fortunately caught himself before he could hit the ground. He stood up straight, dusting his clothes with a breathy laugh before yelping out a pained, “Ow!”

“What happened?” You ask as you reach out to cup his face, checking his head and skin for any injuries.

The male chuckled with a closed eyed smile, “I got hit by a rock!” His voice echoed within the city, making you slightly cringe when your ears ached. He was quick to go off on a tangent, babbling about some nonsense that made you even more confused than before.

“Bennett,” you call out to grasp his attention. The moment he turned your way, you slapped a hand over his mouth with an amused smile. “I know you’re excited and want to talk, but we should move away from the Knights of Favonius headquarters before Captain Kaeya kills us.”

He kissed your palm gently, eliciting a ticklish sensation in your hand that made you pull away. Before you could do anything about his sneaky kisses, he grabbed your hand and began dragging you away, talking about some adventure team he was putting together.

# CHONGYUN

where: your shoulders!

why: he likes the smoothness of your shoulder when he lays down behind you and can rest easily without being judged.

The bedroom door creaked open to reveal the blue haired male who stood in the doorway with a pensive look on his face. Upon seeing you lying in your shared bed, he exhaled deeply and you could practically see relief wash over is features. “[y/n],” he breathed out as he shuffled into the room, scurrying over the bed to climb onto the silk sheets and lay himself in the spot behind you.

He wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling your body into his chest as gently as possible. As hesitant as he was, he was way too tired to be reluctant about holding you even thought you clearly felt the same need for touch as him. “’m so tired.”

After a long day of training, he was exhausted and was in desperate need of your touch in order to replenish the energy he had depleted earlier that day. It was only much better now that you were both living together and were able to cuddle as much as needed after work.

“Welcome home, my love.”

He buried his face in the crook of your neck, doing his absolute best to push away the strong emotions that burned inside of his heart. He refused to flare-up in front of you ever again, but with you unknowingly doing things to stir him up, he was always struggling to keep calm.

Peppering kisses along your shoulders, you felt a shiver run down your spine at the cold sensation of his lips on your skin. It was a blissful feeling, warming up your heart with love despite how cold his body truly was. Too beautiful.

# RAZOR

where: your eyelids!

why: this one may sound weird but he just gets curious when he keeps watch and tends to do it without a thought.

Razor stood tall at the peak of the mountain that you both temporarily resided on. His chin was held high, chest puffed out with a sense of responsibility flowing through his veins at the thought of watching over you while you slept to keep you out of harms way. It wasn’t necessarily a demanding duty but for you, it meant a thousand times more than it usually would have.

The boy approached your sleeping body. You were rested on the ground under his jacket that barely shielded you from the cold weather tonight presented to you both. He gently tugged his jacket further up your body, covering your arm that had been slightly exposed.

You were cute like this, sleeping so peacefully with so much trust in the guy who could barely communicate yet you loved him so much. It was amazing.

Subconsciously, he bent down and placed a chaste kiss on your eyelid. You stirred in your sleep, forcing him to jolt away in surprise before settling when you murmured something sleepily, smiled and then relaxed. Your behavior was new to him and yet, it brought so many different feelings into his heart. Unknowing to you, he smiled genuinely and patted your head gently.

“You rest. I keep watch.”

# XIAO

where: your forehead!

why: he just thinks it is less embarrassing than trying to kiss you on the lips openly + less chances of him getting denied the kiss.

His expression was rather dark as you stood in front of one another. It looked like he was thinking deeply about something but you brushed it off, assuming it was just his way of sulking since you two were about to split for the night.

“I packed you some Almond Tofu, so you can eat some on your way back. I also got you a jacket to wear since it might be a little cold in the evening. I know you don’t sleep and stuff, so I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” Your rambling about his well-being wasn’t new to him, which is why he didn’t interrupt you. He watched with the same dark expression that seemed scary but if you looked closely, you would see just how soft those eyes had become after spending so much time with a “mere human” like you.

Grasping you by the back of you head, he pulled you forward and leaned in briskly, kissing your forehead softly before pulling away and turning around. You barely had a second to recover as he adjusted his mask on his face and disappeared from your sight, muttering nothing but a simple, “be careful.”

You smiled at the tingling sensation on you skin, knowing he had only escaped to avoid feeling any type of emotion after kissing you so brazenly. As mean as Xiao seemed, he really was a simpleton with you.

# XINGQIU

where: the back of your hand!

why: do i have to explain?

“Xingqiu, where are we going?” You asked with a tired smile on your lips as you allowed yourself to be dragged along this upward slope with no set destination in mind. The boy simply laughed, pulling you faster until you were nearly tripping over your own feet. By the time you had planned to complain once more, he came to an abrupt stop and you almost bumped into his body if it wasn’t for your quick senses. “Where are we?”

“Take a look, my liege. Quite fascinating, is it not?” He said as he took a seat on the branch perched on the top of the hill, big enough for the two of them to sit on. You plopped beside him, admiring the sun that was beginning to set while Xingqiu opened a book to the page he had left off on.

“My life seems fulfilled when I am sat here with a book in my hands and you by my side. Don’t you agree?” HIs words were sincere, surprisingly void of that mischievous tone he usually had these days.

“I’m not particularly fond of books like you, but I am extremely fond of you. So, yes, I do agree.” You said with a cheesy smile, leaning in his direction. The boy abruptly stood up, and you rose an eyebrow in confusion.

Bending his body slightly, he held out his hand to you until you placed yours on top of his. Once you did so, he pressed his lips to the back of your hand and flashed you an easy smile. “With this, I owe my life to you, my liege. A vow much greater than marriage.”

# ZHONGLI

where: your lips!

why: I legit couldn’t think of a non-lips spot so i gave up. mans just likes the way your lips taste like his favorite wine. two good things.

He admired his cup with bright eyes, absolute taken with the way it tasted on his tongue and hadn’t changed in all these years. It was a beautiful emotion that was a mixture of happiness and nostalgia, plus a bit of romance considering he was here with the one he loved.

“What do you think?” Zhongli asked, eyes full of curiosity as he turned in your direction. You hadn’t said anything all night and he assumed you weren’t enjoying the wine he had presented to you so happily.

On contrary, it was way too good to be wasted, so you chose to drink it slowly in order to savor the beautiful taste that somehow reminded you of Zhongli himself. Maybe it was because he talked about this wine too much.

“It tastes good,” you murmur, leaning into his side to gain a bit of warmth from the male who shared the emotion, leaning into your touch.

You glanced up at him, smiling softly when you already saw his eyes on you. “Stop staring so impolitely. Where are your manners?” You asked jokingly, giggling softly when Zhongli looked down and chuckled.

Leaning in, he cupped your cheek and smashed your lips together. He could taste the Osmanthus wine on you and it nearly made him melt into the kiss that he had long suppressed.

When he pulled away, a small smile settled into his lips, satisfaction in his eyes. “Osmanthus wine tastes the same as I remember.”

a/n: finally, I finished it. im going to bed now uhhdhfjf (idk if i’ll ever do other characters but we’ll see)

[ssa-daddyhotchner]

Undercover - Chapter 1

Story Warnings: Smut, rape, mention of suicide, murder, domestic abuse, sexual assault, mention of abortion, addiction, torture, kidnapping.

Just a mention that these are serious topics and are not promoting anything and those topics are specifically for character development....

Chapter Selection

______________________________

I walk into the building and feel a rush of cool air. Dammit I wish I brought a sweater. When I walk into the office I get called by a man wearing a black suit with a red tie, 

"Agent y/l?" I turned my head and walk over to the man that called my name; my Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner. "Yes?" 

"Can I see you in my office." He asked in a clam stern voice. I walked up to his door and walked inside.

He gestured for me to take a seat. "I see that you have a degree in criminology and criminal psychology."

"Yes sir." I started to rub my thump over my fingers. "Why the BAU", I couldn't read the emotions on his face. He was like stone. "I've always been interested in criminals and their behavior the why was the question I constantly asked myself when I'd see or read a story of a crime." 

He doesn't say anything he just looks. His brows furrowed with his eyes focused on my body language.

"Okay", Hotch stands up and holds out his hand. I follow his movements and shook his hand. He walks out from behind his desk and walks to the railing outside. "I'd like to introduce you to Agent y/n y/l."

A crowd of 6 people came around from all over the bullpen. Hotch pointed to all the people; "This is Derek Morgan, Jennifer Jareau, Emily Prentiss, Spencer Reid, David Rossi, and Penelope Garcia,"

We all made conversation about how it was at the BAU and the types of cases they had gotten in the past. They were quick to disperse having paperwork to do. Hotch showed me to my desk and Garcia helped me get familiar with the system. 

"Hey you need some help." Morgan approached me. "I'm already in the system and I have nothing to work on." He looks a me. 

"I can show you around the building if you want; I'm already done my paperwork and I don't get off till 5 so." I shrug I've got nothing better to do. 

JJ walked into the bullpen with a file at hand, "We've got a case." Everyone files to the round table taking a seat. Emily looks around taking notice at y/n and Morgan's absence, "Where's y/n and Morgan." 

"He took her on a tour of the building, he was done his work." Reid says. 

Me and Morgan were walking back into the bullpen when we notice everyone at the round table.

Hotch gave Morgan a disappointing look and showed me no emotion. "Don't be late. Garica." He wanted her to start. 

Garcia starts ,"16 yr old Julia Martin went missing in Georgetown, Delaware Tuesday night at 10:32pm. She goes to Sussex Central High School, she is a sophomore and keeps to herself, she has a few close friends. She doesn't go out very often." 

Now it's common knowledge that with cases like these it's time sensitive. "Wheels up in 30", We all head out to get our go bags, getting into the SUVs and heading to the jet.

We start to go over the case again. Hotch starts, "Prentiss, Morgan and I will go to the police station to set up, Reid and JJ go talk to the family. 

Y/N you're with Rossi I want you guys to go to the school and talk to her teachers and friends."

The plane lands and we all get into the cars.

Rossi gets into the driver's seat. "So how do you like it so far." He continues to look at the road. 

"It's great I've always wanted to be in the BAU since I was a kid." I look at Rossi, "Is Hotch always so serious?" He glances at me, "Most of the time but he'll warm up to you."

The rest of the car ride is filled with small conversation. 

We get to the school and walk and start talking to her teachers. I asked "What was Julia like in class? Did she talk to anybody that she usually didn't and how were her grades?"

"She didn't really talk to anyone other than a few of her friends. I would try and help her to talk but she would end up doing the work independently even with a group and she would do all the work and as for her grades they were great. She was an A, B student for the most part."

The rest of the teachers said the same thing as the first. 

"Okay so if nothing was going on at school and there were no suspicious people hanging around then they must have grabbed her at home."

 I told Rossi as we walked back to the car. Someone caught our attention. There was a boy leaning against our car. 

"Can we help you", Rossi asked. "I might know what happened to Julia, she was talking to this guy online... she might have mentioned that she was gonna meet up with him." 

"Can you come by the station later we're gonna need to talk to you", I said and he agreed. 

We drive back to the police station and the rest of the team is there. "So apparently Julia was talking to someone online and her friend thinks that's who might have taken her." Rossi says. 

"And she's never met this guy. He doesn't even go to the same school according to her friend" I continue, "The friend's name is Kevin Philips and he's coming by tomorrow."

"Okay everyone we have a long day tomorrow let's get some rest." Hotch tells the team.

We go outside to the cars and drive over to the hotel. "There were only four rooms left so we're gonna need to share.

 JJ and Emily I'm assuming you two are gonna share, Morgan and I will share so that leaves Hotch and y/n." Hotch stares at Rossi

"So you just get a room to yourself?" "Exactly." He walked off going to his room. 

Of course.. "Are you ok with that, you can just share a room with JJ and I." 

"No really it's fine." It wasn't fine. It was my first case and I sharing a room with my boss. Not just my boss but someone I found attractive. 

Hotch grabs the key and we walk to the room. He walks in, drops his stuff on the chair and I just look at him then the bed. "What is it?"

"Um there's only one bed."

He looks at the bed and then the floor. "If it bothers you I can sleep on the floor I dont mind." 

"No, it's ok, it's a large bed." He then turns around, grabs a towel and hops into the shower. I heat up our leftovers from lunch; I know he hasn’t eaten since this afternoon. 

I put on some music and I start to change into a black crop top and grey sweatpants when he walks out of the bathroom. 

I don't notice him at first but I can feel his eyes traveling up my body. I turned around and he's looking at me and I was staring at him. 

He was buff, not ripped, but perfectly toned. You could clearly tell he had abs and a V line that went straight to..... I hadn't put on my clothes yet I was only in a black lace bra and some matching underwear.

He kept staring and I was too lost in thought to do anything about it. "I'm sorry", and he turned around and walked back into the bathroom out of embarrassment. "It's ok Hotch really." 

"You sure." "Yes I'm sure." He walked back out with just the towel when I finished changing. While I was eating at one of the desks. 

There was a mirror in front of me and I could see him perfectly. While I was chewing I could hear a faint voice. "y/n...y/n" I snapped to look up at his eyes through the mirror. 

"Uhh you were staring." I didn't answer but I didn't have too. The brush rose to my cheeks and he could tell.

"You made my food?", "Yeah i knew you hadn't eaten so I figured."

Once I finished I turned off most of the lights as Hotch was still awake; I crawled under the covers and drifted off to sleep.

Aaron POV

I finished up eating the food she made me. I noticed the music she had on was still playing, the song was Brian Crain - Earth. 

She was already sleeping...she looked so beautiful and peaceful. I turned off the music and crawled into bed. She didn't move and I went to sleep. 

I woke up at 2am and her arms wrapped around my torso. Her head was laying on my chest; I slowly got up and went to the bathroom. I looked into the mirror and saw the sweat through my shirt so I took it off.

I went back into bed and right as I put one foot in she grabs my hand and pulls me toward her.

I'm now laying next to her with my arm wrapped around her back with my hand on her waist. She pulls me closer to her, puts her head back on my chest, and put a hand at the base of my neck. 

"Where'd you go", she whispered into my ear. I got chills that ran up and down my spine.

"I had to go for a second but I'm back now", my voice was soft and low almost a whisper as I didn't wanna wake her even more. It was nice, I did like her. 

She nestles her head in the crook of my neck. I felt her breath on my body. We both just drift in each other's arms.

She's just so beautiful... everything about her. The dips and curves of her body to the sound of her voice.

I notice something though, the scars running down her back. Like someone had dragged a knife down it.

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

I woke up first again this time; it was 6am. I didn't wanna wake y/n so I just stayed in bed laying down looking at her. 

This time she wasn't holding me, she was almost on top of me; I could feel her heart beat at a steady pace. Her legs were on mine, her face nestled into my chest and her arms around my body. 

I put my hands on her holding her close. After about 10min she started to open her eyes. "Hey", I said with a soft tone. Surprisingly she looked at me and didn't visibly freak out but her heart rate was picking up, she closed her eyes and tightened her grip. 

"How'd you sleep", I asked her and she looked down at my chest. "It was good", She said lazily. Y/N let out a loud sigh and got up into the bathroom. 

The heat that was next to me started to fade away as her side of the bed got cold. I heard the shower turn on when I went to get some food. 

When I came back she was out of the shower and dressed. "I got you some coffee." She took it from my hand and waited for me to get ready for work.

Y/N POV

Oh my god, I was sleeping on my boss....all night. I enjoyed it- he didn't get up when he saw me. Did he enjoy it too?

I get out of the shower and Hotch is gone. I started to get changed; I put on a white dress shirt and a black slacks with black heels. I hear someone knock at the door. 

It was Hotch holding some coffee and two muffins. "I got you some coffee." He said holding it out.

I start eating my food and he started asking me questions. "So what made you wanna join the FBI?", that was one question I didn't really wanna answer right now. 

"It was my sister for the most part but also the fact that basically my whole family was involved in the government."

"Why your sister?", He looked at me studying seeing how I was reacting. When he asked that question my heart sank into my stomach. "She-", I was trying not to cry; I took a big gulp. 

"She was murdered when I was teenager, I was the one who found the body...It was a long time ago but it still hurts", tears started to fill my eyes and my face was getting red. I looked up for a moment trying to blink the tears away. 

There was a flash of regret in his eyes, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to get upset." 

"No it's okay you didn't know." I was trying to hold it together clearly it wasn't working when he walked over to me, he put his arms around my waist and back and hugged me. 

I was caught off guard by the sign of affection but I put my arms around him and hugged him tight. 

"it's okay, I'm sorry." A few tears managed to escape from my eyes; they rolled down my face they were absorbed by his shirt. He cupped my face and wanted me to look at him. 

He didn't say anything, he used his thumb to wipe the tears that were still falling from my face and hugged me again.

I started to calm down in his arms listening to his breathing. I felt protected, secure, and warm. Being in his embrace was like a shield; nothing else mattered. 

Time skip

While waiting for Kevin to get here we all are gathered around talking. I walked over to Reid; he has his nose buried in a book, "Hey." He looked up at me. "Hey", "How's it going." I was getting a little nervous running my thumb along my other fingers. 

He seemed to notice when his face softened a bit. "Good"

"Look I'm sorry in advance I'm not really good with conversation." I said as he stood up from the chair. "It's okay neither am I, I always worry if I'm saying too much or saying the wrong thing." 

Knowing there was someone else on the team that was also awkward it was comforting. "Well since we'll be working together a lot how about when we finish this we go get a cup of coffee." 

His shoulders eased and his eyes lit up. "Yeah I'd like that." I can tell the corners of his mouth were turning up and his cheeks were slightly pink. 

Reid sat back down when I walked away he looked slightly disappointed but resumed reading. I was about to talk to Morgan but Kevin walked into the station. 

JJ walked up to him, "Kevin?" He nodded. "Follow me", JJ brought him to a back office and sat him down. "Before Julia left did she say anything to you."

Kevin started, "I might be her best friend but she didn't tell me much only that she'd been talking to him for a few months and that he wanted to meet up with her. She said his name was Danny. He went to another high school but she didn't say which one, he was 17, and lived near Middletown or New Castle; I don't remember which. If it were up to her she wouldn't have told me at all, I was bugging her about it and she finally let it out." 

Morgan called Garcia, "Hey baby girl, Do you think you can trace her phone?", then Garcia started talking "Honey if you don't think I can do that then your in for a surprise on what I can do." Morgan laughed. He's obviously the flirty one. 

"Her phone is off best I can do is get the last known location....and that is in...New Castle Glasgow Park, its roughly an hour and 30 away." "Alright thanks babygirl"

"I'll call you back if it goes online." She ended the phone call and told the team.

Reid looked at Hotch, Morgan and I. "Either that's where they took her or she really didn't wanna get caught", I stated. 

"Y/N and I will drive up there." Hotch glances at me and nodded his head towards the door. 

The drive with Hotch was nice. We talked and I learned he had a brother in New York that works as a chef. His dad was a lawyer and his mom was a nurse. He likes dogs, Bon Jovi, and the beatles. 

I told him more about my sister, how my mom was a Marine and my dad was a detective. I told him I liked the beatles, cold weather, and Elvis. 

When we got to the park we noticed there was no one there, it was silent and secluded. "Walk with me", I tugged his hand gesturing to follow me. "Were on a case", "I know were just looking around." 

His eyes looked down at my hand on his, I let go and my cheeks blushed, he took notice; the corners of his mouth turning upwards. There was no one else on the trail.

Trees surrounding the majority of the area. "What did you do.. ya know before this." As we were walking he averted his gaze from the ground to me. "Before the FBI?" I turned slightly. "Yeah", "I was a prosecutor." 

I slowed my steps, "Why'd you stop, you were still putting the criminals away. Why'd you lose interest." He smiled a bit when he looked to the side to see me already looking at him. 

"I don't know, I guess it was because I was tried of it. When those cases came to me they had already committed the crime. I guess I thought I wasn't doing enough. I wanted to get them before those cases reached my desk." 

We were approaching some of the wooded pathways that broke of in two directions.

That's when we stopped, I walked in front of him and kept my eyes of the ground before looking up. 

"Well sir congrats you were successful. I mean think of how many lives you've saved based on that one decision you made." His eyes softened and his face eased his shoulders dropped, he was relaxed. 

"What's that", he points to the ground in front of one of the gates by the woods. I bend down and grabbed it, "It's a phone. Still has power, no password." 

Hotch calls Garcia, "Hello sir what can I do you for." "Can you run a number for me...302-555-4276." After a few seconds and the sound of typing she speaks. 

"The number is registered to a.. Julia Martin. Sir, that's her phone" Hotch ends the call. 

"The phone was in front of the woods if you were taking someone to a public park to meet with them the woods would be an easy exit", He states. 

Hotch gestures me to continue walking into the woods I look at him then the woods. "No you're going first", I put my hands up and he stares down and chuckles. "You scared?", I shrug and grin, "Maybe."

"Think about it in the movies where do the people go missing" I pause before continuing, "the woods and I'm not gonna be one of those people." 

While he's stiffing a laugh I follow behind him. It's starting to get dark so we pick up the pace. We go on for 2 miles before I stop him, "Right there", I point to a broken house at a clearing.

I remove my gun, he takes the back while I stay in the front with my gun raised. 

I hear Hotchs footsteps through the house, I walk in the front door; seeing nothing but broken chairs, torn wallpaper, and rotting wood. He signals me to go upstairs. 

The floor creaking below me feeling like it's going to fall any second. I get to the top and check the rooms. There's a chair in the middle of the room, blood on the walls and clothes covering the floor but they are worn and discolored. They've been for awhile. 

As I go back downstairs I fall through into the basement, "Fuck!". "Y/N what happened, are you okay." "I'm fine", I say strained. I slammed my back on the concrete knocking the wind out of me. 

I hear something moving in the room with me. "Hotch there's something down here." I call out to him yelling in a whisper. 

[oyaterriblyfunnyreallywitty]

Strawberries & Cigarettes

Warnings:  falling in love with a fictional character

Word count: 1524

Summary: In a twisted turn of events Draco is smitten by muggle reader. Based on the song Strawberries + Cigarettes by Troye Sivan. 

Remember when we first met, you said “light my cigarette”

Draco had opposed fervently to the idea but he was out number, three imbeciles to one sane man.  That is how he found himself in this dodgy alley in muggle world which he wished he could just vanish out of; just to be clear, he could. Draco just couldn’t bring himself to leave behind Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini unsupervised inside that muggle dance room, he could think of a few distasteful endings to that scenario.

“Hey,” a girl’s voice cut through the silent night air, “do you have a light?”

His face turned into his signature scowl, muggles. Such dependent creatures, couldn’t she see he was busy sulking? He didn’t turn in her direction in hopes she’d just wonder off into the night and leave him to his own thoughts.

“Helloooo! Earth to blondie. Can you light my cigarette?” she’d said with a playful chuckle as she grew closer. His head snapped, how dare she- but the anger at her insolence quickly melted at the sight in front of him. Her beautiful y/e/c eyes had struck his heart the minute they’d met his. She was a deadly combination in that black dress which hugged her body in all the right places, her y/h/c hair framing her angelic face as she flashed him a smile. He swallowed. He was reaching for his wand, the word ‘lumos’ on the tip of his tongue when the girl leaned forward, cigarette still in mouth looking up at him.

Muggle.

Right! He drew his hand away from his wand quickly as if he’d been burned and gave her an awkward smile, “I actually don’t have one.”

“That’s fine, it was just an excuse you know.” She said giving him a sly smile as she tucked the cigarette into the small pink purse that hung over her shoulder and looked back at him.

“Y/n.” she said reaching out a hand.

“Draco, Draco Malfoy.” He said straightening up and reaching to shake her small hand, a surely stupid looking grin finding its way onto his face.

“Oh, are we doing the James Bond type of introduction?” She said letting out a small laugh at her idea of a joke.

“Uh.” he didn’t get it.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never watched James Bond!?” an incredulous y/n stared at him.

“Not really, wha-“ he felt inadequate, he didn’t know anything about muggles, how would he ever keep this charade up.

“That’s a CRIME!” she shouted the last word, “I can help you there.” She said nodding to herself and giving him a crooked smile as she began the longest one-sided conversation in the history of speech.

Muggles, such fascinating creatures, he’d thought as they walked down the empty streets with her talking him through the storyline of each James Bond movie until the sky began to lighten.

But we couldn’t go very far cause you locked your keys in your car so you sat and stared at my lips and I could already feel your kiss

The hot summer sun was scorching and Draco decided muggle ice cream was their best invention to date. He watched as y/n licked her strawberry ice cream cone and smiled as a pink dot appeared on the tip of her nose deciding he’d let her keep it. He’d gotten the green mint scoop against y/n wishes and he liked it very much.

“You have got to be JOKING!” He heard her yell as she rummaged through her purse.

“What?” Draco asked as he took another spoonful of the minty goodness.

“I left the keys in the car.” She said finally returning to her ice cream cone after one single minute of searching.

“Are you sure you looked everywhere?” If he didn’t know any better he would’ve thought she’d done an undetectable extension charm on that bag of hers, always losing stuff in there as if there were no end in sight to it.

“Mhm.” Y/n said, taking another lick as she eyed their surroundings. “I’ll text my mum to bring me my other set of keys, lets go wait there.” She pointed to a big tree across the street.

Lucky for the both them there was in fact a park right across from where they stood that was willing to provide some relief from the unforgiving sun with its trees.

Draco was sat with his knees up to his chest, still savoring the last bit of his mint ice cream.

“Oh, but that you can find.” He said with a snicker as y/n pulled out a cigarette, a nasty vice that’d brought them together. “How does that even work?” he said scrunching his nose and eyeing her other hand still holding her cone.

She was laughing, “Hey, hey, you gotta take the good with the bad. Now hold this.” She said handing him the cone.

He sat down his own, now empty, ice cream cup and held onto the strawberry cone. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She was still struggling to start a flame with her lighter so he gave the ice cream a quick lick, then another, it was quiet good. Tasted like authentic strawberries. He should’ve gotten the strawberry one.

“HEY!” y/n said laughing, “I TOLD YOU! Now you have to live with your decisions.” She said taking the cone back despite still working on lighting the cigarette.

“Fine.” He sat there, contemplating going back to the store for a different flavored cup when he inhaled a mouthful of smoke.

It sent him into a fit of coughing with y/n profusely apologizing.

In the end, his near death experience, got him to keep the strawberry cone.

They sat there until the sun felt bearable and then some more.

“So, when do you go back?” y/n asked, her cigarette long put out but its scent still lingering.

“Wha-Oh, yes. I should be going back by the end of the summer.” He hadn’t told her the full truth about being a wizard, but boarding school had been convincing enough.

“That’s,” she counted on her fingers, “four days from now.” She finished, her face falling.

“Yeah.” He said, leaning his head back into the trunk of the tree, for once, wishing he too were a mere muggle.

He felt her shift besides him and turned to her, their eyes met and he recognized the look. She kept glancing from his lips back to his eyes, a universal sign amongst wizards or muggles. He cupped her cheek with his hand, took one last look look into her y/e/c eyes, and dove in head first.

In years to come all he would remember from that afternoon would be the taste of strawberries and cigarettes.

And y/n, always y/n.

Remember when you taught me fate, you said it’d all be worth the wait

Alas, time was unforgiving, and tonight was their last night in muggle world. Zabini’s father, the most unorthodox one of all the pure blood families, who had allowed this escapade in the first place, wanted them back in the manor by tomorrow at noon.

Y/n had planned a night full of fun in honor of his parting.

Cars were very useful, he thought as he sat inside the car, music playing and ceiling open to the night sky.

She’d also had bought loads of muggle candy which was surprisingly better than what the Honeydukes Express had to offer on its best day.

Although key details of Draco’s life were glossed over he talked to her about everything.

There were a few moments were no words were spoken as their lips were much too preoccupied.

They however managed to talk about everything that mattered; their lives, their hopes, and their dreams until the sun defeated the moon, rising triumphantly once again.

The promise was exchanged in the brand new daylight to meet again next summer. 

You always leave me wanting more, I can’t shake my hunger for

It was their first morning back at Hogwarts, Draco couldn’t help but feel a little under the weather as he took a seat across from Crabbe and Goyle who were fighting over who got to grab the first toast. Why was he friends with them?

Draco let out a sigh as he took a sip of his pumpkin juice, recalling the events from the past two weeks. He missed y/n terribly, if he would make through this semester was still to be seen. He was contemplating escaping the manor during Christmas break when he felt something fall on his lap.

Crabbe and Goyle’s idiotic argument had concluded but not before they’d managed to spill everything on the table. His own pumpkin juice now dripping down the edge and onto his robe. Zabini was letting them have a piece of his mind as Draco mumbled, “You both couldn’t be more daft if you tried..” looking down to his lap. Crabbe and Goyle were now the last thing on his mind as he eyed the strawberry. He’d been so absentminded he hadn’t even noticed the bowl of strawberries that had been set in front of him. He picked it up off his lap and bit into it, memories flooding in all at once. He found himself smiling like an idiot the rest of the day, summer couldn’t come fast enough.

Strawberries and cigarettes always taste like you

[takara-kaneko]

I know I request a lot now so take your time. It could you do a part 2 to the mc leaving one? Good or bad doesnt matter, just some closure about if they’re capable of changing and get mc back? Maybe building up mcs confidence again bc now they’re hesitant to start planning parties again.

Surprisingly, I’m still here! Pandemic life has been really getting to me, haha, but I am still here! I’ve been working on this fic for a while, and it has become much larger than I had first anticipated, but I hope that you enjoy it nonetheless!  If you haven’t read the first story, then click Here!! 

Let Me Go Part 2 (Good End) 

Zen 🎭

He was in his dressing room, changing out of the costume of his most recent character. The performance was a success, and he had been receiving so many compliments by the audience and the cast alike. But he didn’t really feel happy. Hell, he hadn’t been happy for a long time now. Not since MC left. 

Without thinking, he pulled out his phone and unlocked it. Staring at back him was her contact photo, with an empty text bar below. Zen had written up so many drafts, each giving a different apology, and each begging for forgiveness. But he never sent them to her. Not until everything within the RFA was fixed; not until he had fixed everything. 

It has taken some hard work, but he was finally believing that things were the way they should be. The RFA was making strides coping with their loss of Rika. Many, himself included, were really starting to move on. Maybe it was time for him to message. 

With bated breath, he began typing. “I don’t know if this is too late, but I’m sorry. For everything. I don’t expect your forgiveness, nor do I deserve it… I’m just… trying to repair what I’ve done. I’m trying to fix me. MC, I love you, more than I can express in a text. I hope you know that.”

His finger hovered over the ‘send’ button. It had been months, did she really want to get something from him now? Would she even care, or has she already gotten over him? Zen shook his head, trying to ignore his thoughts. With nothing to lose, he sent it. As it was delivered, he heard a chime from outside his door, followed by a soft curse.

Curious, Zen approached the door and opened it. There was no one in front of him, but as he looked out, he saw a figure walking away from him. A figure that had haunted his thoughts and riddled his dreams. Zen stepped forward a few steps and reached out to her, a painful expression painting his face. 

“MC! MC, wait...” 

She stopped but doesn’t turn back to him. “I watched the show…” He strained to hear her, she was almost whispering, “You were really good, Zen.” 

Zen had to restrain himself from approaching her. From wrapping her in his arms and refuse to let her go ever again. But he couldn’t do that to her, she had every right to leave him and never return.

“I didn’t know you were going to watch it. I could’ve gotten you tickets.” He didn’t really know what to say. He was being awkward, Zen knew he was, but so long as she continued to talk to him, he couldn’t ask for anything more. 

MC still didn’t move, almost frozen where she stood. “I didn’t know I was either. A friend of mine got tickets and she didn’t tell me where we were going until I saw you on stage. And I…” Turning her head towards him, he could see the tears falling from her eyes. “...I realized how much I’ve really missed you, Hyun.” 

There wasn’t even a moment to think before Zen was in front of her, wiping away the tears on MC’s face. “Jagi, please don’t cry, I don’t deserve your tears. I’m the one who caused you to leave.” 

He wrapped his arms around her, burying his head in the crook of her neck. If she was really going to be out of his life, he wanted one last memory of her. Her scent, the feeling of her on his skin. Anything he could, he wanted to remember. 

“I’m so sorry, MC… I’m so sorry.” A sob escaped Zen as he stood there, gripping the love of his life. 

“Did you mean it?” She whispered into his chest, “Your text, do you really mean what you wrote?” 

Zen stopped a moment. Did she really not think that he would change everything if it would give him a chance to get her back? “Baby, of course, I do. I would do anything, anything, if it meant that you would still be here.” 

MC sniffled a bit before taking a few steps back. More than anything, Zen wanted to hold on, wanted to have her stay and be with him. But it was her choice, and he refused to take that away from her. As he released her, Zen clenched his jaw to restrain his want to grab her hand. 

She looked up at him, her lip quivering. “I can’t… I can’t just come back like nothing ever happened.” 

 Zen nodded. Yes, he knew that this would be the answer. After all, he didn’t deserve her, even for the time he actually had her. To get MC back was just- 

“We have to start over.”  She declared, pulling Zen out from his own thoughts in a flash, “From the beginning. I need to know that this is real, not something you’ll say to get me back and it goes back to the way it was before. I can’t do that again and I-”

MC’s words are cut short by the feeling of Zen’s hand caressing her face. He looked at her, with nothing but pure euphoria. “For you to be in my life, even if it’s just as friends, I’ll do whatever you need me to. If you want to restart, I’ll just...” 

 Taking a few steps back, he reached out his hand for a handshake, “Hi, my name is Hyun Ryu, stage name Zen. And I am hopelessly in love with you.”

Trying to fight back the tears, she reached up and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m MC. And I have missed you every second you have been out of my life.” 

Yoosung ⭐️

These past few months had been a really rough time for Yoosung. Not only having to deal with the regular stresses of his life, but he also had no idea how to do it without depending on someone as capable as MC. 

He had decided to focus entirely on school, even considered dropping out of the RFA, but at their refusal, he explained what happened. The weight of their actions dawned on them. The whole group pledged to work on this mistake, without much pushing from Yoosung. They all seemed to miss MC, even if it isn’t as much as Yoosung did. 

But with the RFA making steady progress, Yoosung decided to get a hold on his life, passing all of his courses this year with flying colors. 

Part of him wanted to call MC, tell her all the good things he accomplished in his strides to become better, but with only time he’s heard from her was the reply to the text he sent the night she left; he didn’t feel he deserved to talk to MC. He didn’t want to bother her. She likely never wanted to see him again, and he couldn’t blame her. 

 But with finals finally done, Yoosung felt like it was time to reward himself for his success. There was a limited time expansion for LOLOL and Yoosung had just saved enough to get it. He went into the game store, excited to finally get to play it. 

Getting in line, he couldn’t help but stare at the hair of the woman in front of him. If he didn’t know better, he probably would’ve thought that it was MC-

Wait. Was that MC? She had the same beautiful locks, the same frame, but it was hard to tell from the baggy sweatshirt she had on. He stood, awkwardly staring at the girl in front of him, trying to build up the nerve to just poke, maybe brush into her so she’d turn around?   

No, no that was stupid… What if it was her, what then?  ‘Oh hey MC, nice to see you again? I haven’t been a happy a single moment since you left; I need you in my life.’ Yeah, Yoosung tells himself, that’s a horrible plan. If it was her, she probably wouldn’t want to see him, anyway. 

He pulls out his phone to look at her last text, “And my heart to you, Star.” Sure, she said that, but did he actually deserve that? Wasn’t what he put her through enough?  But even so… he wanted to see her, even just once. He glanced back down at his phone, at her ring that has become his keychain and made up his mind. 

“Hey, sunshine.” He said, enough for the girl in front him, but not loud enough that it was directed toward her. He watched as she flinched, dropping her phone in the process. 

Yoosung went for it, apologizing as he did. Picking up the phone, he freezes. On the lock screen was of him, happily hugging the love of his life. He remembered that photo, it was the first time MC told him that she loved him. It was one of the happiest moments in Yoosung's life. 

A pair of hands met his, taking the phone. Yoosung almost tried to keep the phone to keep looking at the photo, but it’s not his phone, so he let the other hands take it. Standing back up, he was face to face with MC. 

Status: Frozen

Yoosung had no idea what he was supposed to do. Should he talk? Wave? Maybe just ignore her…? What? no! Swallowing thickly, Yoosung stuck his hand out to wave at her. 

‘I’m such an idiot’ Flashed through his head, but he had to push past it. 

“Hey, Sunshine. You… you look really good.” 

She looked down at her sweatshirt and baggy pants and laughed softly, “I haven’t taken a shower in two days, I needed to get to a high enough level to be able to play the DLC. I don’t have you to carry me through those high-level missions anymore…” MC trails off, looking away from him.

“Are you kidding?” Yoosung said, surprised, "You were much better than me when I started. You’ll be one of the top members on the server in no time! You’re already at ranking 137, that’s incredible to only have been playing for a few months!”

At his words, MC’s eyes widened. Yoosung realized how weird his statement must’ve been. Who keeps track of their ex-girlfriend’s gaming status? Him, definitely. There were times Yoosung wanted to offer her the legendary gear he had collected, but could never build up enough courage. 

Clutching a strand of her hair, MC sucked in a breath, “Well… How have you been? Classes going well?” 

Yoosung nodded shyly, now embarrassed and not sure what to say with her finally in front of him, “Yeah, Finally passed with some of the top grades in my class! Your study guides really helped me out, though I missed working with you on them.” 

“Well, you seem to be getting along fine, so you can’t be missing much.” 

With furrowed brows, Yoosung caught MC's hand as she was about to turn away, “MC… I have been doing these things for you. For how much you pushed me and supported me. For me to fail when you left, would be the ultimate proof that I never should have had you in the first place.” 

MC opened her mouth to speak, but Yoosung persisted, not allowing her to say something that couldn’t be more wrong, “You think I’ve just moved on, but I still haven’t, I swear that to you. Instead, I’m trying to be someone you’d be proud of. Improving my grades, becoming more independent. Even the RFA is trying to change to make it more welcoming to you, if you’d ever think about coming back to me-  us. Come back to us.” 

There was so much more he wanted to say, needed to say. But just as he opened his mouth to speak- 

“Miss, you’re next.” The cashier said, gesturing to MC. Hesitantly, MC released her hand from his grasp and left him alone. He watched as she conversed lightly with the attendant checking out her game. With a smile, he returned her change and a bag with the game inside. Yoosung reached out to talk to her again, but the man calling him caught him off guard. He glanced over towards the man, then back to MC, only to see she was gone. 

With a heavy heart, he reached the man and bought his game, not even reciprocating the attendant’s excited comments about the DLC. Exiting the store, Yoosung was trying not to cry. (He needed to get back home before that happened) So as he went through the door, he didn’t see the figure standing beside it until they had grabbed the back of his shirt. But he was sad, he was angry, he was ready to throw down. Imagine his surprise when he turned, fists formed, only to be face-to-face with MC once again. 

“Sorry to scare you!”  She squeaked, putting her hands up in surrender. 

The sadness in his heart immediately changed to relief as he looked into her serene eyes. Everything was right with the world once again. 

 MC stood there, mustering up the courage to ask the one thing has had been wanting to say since the beginning of their conversation. “I was uh, just wondering if you would like to… You don’t have to say yes, but I’d like you to.”

Even though nothing was actually explained, Yoosung still had a slight idea of what she was trying to say, “I’d love to work together to beat the next few levels with you, MC. Superman Yoosung is always here for Eternal Sunshine MC.” 

She nodded at him, tears beginning to prick the corners of her eyes “I think I’d really like that.” 

Jumin 🍷

“Just reporting: Has the famous CEO bachelor finally found his date to the upcoming charity ball?” 

With a sigh, Jumin turned off his smartphone. Despite their engagement was never announced publicly, reporters everywhere were trying to pin down who was the 'next woman' to be Jumin’s girl now that he was seemingly single. What they never accounted for was that he had no other plans. MC was the only woman he believed could ever understand him. And in these few months, that point became even more airtight. Not even his father truly understood the pain he was going through. He found himself wanting nothing more than to just work and stay home, avoiding everyone. 

But he did have to go to this charity ball. He had made a large donation, albeit in the company’s name, to the organization. After all, it was one that MC supported the most. It meant the world to her, so he’d give it as much support as he could. 

Jumin exited the limo and easily ignored the flashing lights of the cameras around him. Ignored the passing questions and remarks from the reporters. All but one. 

“Have you finally found a replacement for your ex-girlfriend?” 

It took all he had not to turn back to the reporter. MC could never just be replaced. There was no one in the world like her. So with gritted teeth, he entered into the building. 

For Jumin, entering the room immediately calmed his nerves. Looking around the scenery was like a breath of fresh air when such a feeling was so foreign to him recently. He couldn’t spot anything in particular that could make him feel that way, but the whole place just felt so comfortable. 

Glancing at the people, however, there was someone that stuck out among the rest. A woman in a sleek, black dress, carrying a glass of champagne as she laughed with the man across from her. Anger flared in the back of his mind as he watched the smile that graced her slender face. As the man touched the soft skin on her hand. No one should touch his MC- 

But she wasn’t his anymore, was she? And he no longer had a say on who she talked to, not that she would have completely listened to him anyways. 

Even as he was thinking this, Jumin found himself nearing them. Seems his subconscious was wanting to see her once more. Wanting to get that man’s hand off of her. But would she even want to see him? 

Not stepping any further, he began watching her again, trying to commit every feature to memory. But she caught his eyes for a moment before turning back to the target of her conversation. With a small handshake, she turned and headed towards him. 

Unprepared for this conversation, he picked up a glass of champagne from a tray passing him by and drank at least half of the liquid in one gulp. He noted the smile on her face as he did it, which he found interesting. But there was no time to think about it as MC was already on him before he knew it. “Jumin, it’s a pleasure to see you could make it out here. I take you were the one behind C&R’s large monetary donation?” 

Jumin was still frozen, unsure of what to say. She seemed happy. And she was the one to come to him, not the other way around. Surely she actually wanted to speak to him or she wouldn’t have come to him, right? He coughed lightly and looked into her eyes, “Yes, I remember you speaking so highly about this charity, so when the opportunity arose, I made sure to contribute. The RFA’s funding should be coming here too from the most recent party, as well.” 

“Yes, I’m aware,” MC nodded, gesturing vaguely behind her, “I spoke to V a moment ago, he came to represent the RFA.” Puzzled, he looked at her with a curious expression. MC understood and smiled, “I’m now one of the leading positions within the organization. I’m their event coordinator, so I get the list of attendants, as well as how much they donated. Both C&R and the RFA’s were very generous, I must thank you.” 

While it was unexpected, Jumin wasn't surprised. MC was very talented and capable of greatness. He smiled at her, and nodded slowly, “I’m glad to see you’re still making a name for yourself, MC. You’re a talented woman, they are very lucky to have you here.” 

A blush spread across her face at his words. She looked down at the ground for a moment before gazing back at Jumin. There was so much he wanted to say, but here and now wasn’t the right time. He leaned in closer to her, his breath brushing past her ear, “May I speak with you a moment?”   

She nodded slowly and followed him to the corner of the room, away from the crowd. Not that he truly noticed them in the beginning, as everything else seemed to fade away when he is with her. But in their isolation, he could feel his heart swell. Jumin wanted to hold her hand, kiss her, tell her how much he missed her, and loved her. How much he prayed she would come back. But none of that actually came out, all he could do was close the distance between them and wrap his arms around her affectionately. Tears pricked the corner of his eyes as he held her against him. 

Jumin shakily sighed as her hands gripped the fabric of his suit, “Oh, how I’ve missed you…” 

In a quick motion, she pulled away from him, but only enough to look at him with a scrutinizing gaze, “You actually missed me?” 

“Without a doubt, I have longed for you every moment you were away. Did you think otherwise?” He looked at her, feeling a mix of curiosity and worry. 

MC shook her head, her smile falling as confusion began to cover her expression, “If you missed me, why haven’t you tried to bring me back? A message, a call… anything? You’ve been silent this whole time… Even V talks to me more than you do and we both know how hard he is to get in touch with.” 

Sliding his hands down to hold her hand, Jumin tried to put his thoughts into words. “Because I don’t deserve you. You were perfect and I was… flawed. All of us were. I didn’t want you to be brought down because of us. You had left for a good reason." 

“Jumin,” She said softly, “I am far from perfect. I left you instead of trying to work with you on it. And when you never called... I thought you hated me-“ 

Without wasting a moment, Jumin leaned in to connect his lips with hers, cutting off her next words. Hate her? He never once held the smallest amount of anger towards her, the thought of it was revolting. Separating their lips just enough for him to speak, he leaned against her forehead,  “I could never hate the woman I’m hopelessly in love with.” 

She closed the distance between them, sealing the two in another kiss. They embraced in the corner of the room and began to dance before the music even began to play. 

Saeyoung 🚧

Every day was just like the last. Get up, work, finish the job, sleep. The only variation was when Vanderwood would show up in the day. Ever since MC left, he had been coming over more often, complaining that he had to clean up after him more now that MC wasn’t there anymore. 

Though it was really to make sure that he was okay and to force him to eat.

And he was right. Once she left, Seayoung fell right back into his bad habits. Not eating, barely ever sleeping. He was nothing more than a slave with survival as his only goal. To live long enough to see those he loved living a happy life without him. 

But it was odd, he wasn’t able to track MC here recently. She was on the CCTV still, trying to talk to him through it ignoring the strange looks she got for shouting and gesturing at a surveillance camera. But in the world of binary numbers, it was almost like she turned into a ghost. 

With a sigh, Saeyoung turned on his system to continue working on his newest assignment. Maybe it was a good thing, to never be able to see her. Then he’d never be reminded of all the reasons he should never have made her leave.

 `ALERT: VIRUS DETECTED` 

The words covered the page. Not knowing what had happened, he knew one thing. He had been hacked.

Saeyoung froze.  How did… it wasn’t possible. With crossed brows, he began trying to get around the evident hacking that had infiltrated his servers. All the information he had on this comp- 

“Oh, no... God, please... No.” He muttered, remembering all of the photos he had of his brother and of MC. If his ineptitude put either of them at risk, he could never forgive himself. 

But as he broke deeper and deeper through the firewalls that were placed, he noticed that the hacker had a lock on everything but the photos of them. It didn’t make sense, but it was almost completely untouched.

As he clicked the folder, their photos appeared on screen, untouched, perfect. Except, there was one addition, a video with a black screen. 

 Holding his breath, Saeyoung opens the video. It shows a blank screen for the longest time until a simple 6 words appeared. 

 “CAN’T AVOID ME FOREVER! LOVE, 606” 

As his mind began processing the words on the screen, Vanderwood entered the room. For a moment, Saeyoung was worried he’d yell at him for the state of his computer, but his partner only looked at him with a knowing grin. 

“MC said that you can either spend two hours unlocking your computer or come into the living room to talk with her for ten minutes.” He stated, trying not to look as amused as he really was. 

 With a sigh, he looked away from Vanderwood, "There really is no way around this, is there?” His friend didn’t reply, only shook his head. Saeyoung stood up, sticking his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and walked out of his room.

There she was. 

Just a few feet away. 

His heart broke just seeing her beautiful face and wanted nothing more than to go to her and apologize for all that he’s done. But he didn’t. Instead, Saeyoung walked passed her and sits across the room, as far as possible. Without a word. “You’ll release my computer?” He asked coldly, staring at the ground beneath her seat. 

MC nodded, before realizing he wasn’t looking at her. Chuckling lightly, she couldn’t help nodding again, “Yes, I will. You know me, I stick to my word. Other than the hour statement I told Vanderwood, it would’ve taken longer. But if you had chosen the hard route, you would’ve realized how much harder it really was after two hours went by and come out anyway.” 

Withholding the want to look at her, Saeyoung ran his hand through his hair. “How did you manage to get into so much of my software without my noticing?”

“When I left, I had wondered if you really didn’t know what you were doing, or if you were just pushing me away again.” She sighed, taking a moment before continuing, “So I hacked in far enough to see your code, and then set up a virus to the video input of your computer. Then I spoke to the CCTV and waited. 15 seconds. That was all it took until you opened it to see me speaking. And as long as that was up, my virus got through. I really didn’t think it would actually work, so it was really helpful you would only focus on me when the videos were up. I suppose I should thank you for that.” 

He could hear Vanderwood laughing from the kitchen, but decided to ignore it. “Why? Why interfere in my work?” 

His sharp tone cut into MC, but she only smiled at his harshness. “Because I wanted to see you, Sae.” 

She.. what? He had outcasted her, tore her down, and made her feel worthless. And she wanted to see him? Saeyoung was at a loss for words. It took a moment for him to speak again. 

“There’s no reason for you to see me again. I don’t have closure or anything for you. You’re better off-“ 

“That’s not what I want.” She interrupted. Taking the moment of silence between then, she stood up and approached Saeyoung, sitting next to him. 

He wouldn’t look at her. He couldn’t. One glance and he knew all of his walls would break. 

“Then what do you want?” 

She placed her hand on top of his, trying not to lose her composure as he moved his hand away from hers. “I want to be with you again.” 

Saeyoung couldn’t help the scoff that came out of his mouth. “I thought you made it pretty clear you didn’t. Isn’t that why you left?” 

While every word he spoke felt like a dagger in his heart, his face remains stoic. “I needed time. And I got that. This was never a permanent deal unless *you* make it one. 

“Then consider this our official breakup. Clean my computer and leave.” 

MC turned her head away from him for a moment, no doubt to wipe away her tears again. “I don’t believe it.” 

“Well, it’s true!” He shouted. “I don’t care about you, now leave me alone!” 

As she goes to refute his words, nothing but a small whimper came out. She placed her hand on his once again, not allowing it to get out of her grasp. With tears in her eyes and a reforged determination, she stared at the man she loves. “Then look me in the eyes and tell me that. Tell me you don’t feel an ounce of feelings for me, and I’ll leave.” 

The quivering of her voice ripped through him in ways that bullets never could. But if he didn’t do it, she would be dragged down with him. Gripping his hoodie tightly, he lifted his eyes to reach hers. To tell her one last time to leave him and go live the life she was meant to live. 

But as he stared at her tear-stained cheeks and puffy eyes, the words he wanted to say disappeared, and Saeyoung began to do the one thing he didn’t want to do- speak from the heart. 

“I never want you to cry, MC. Don’t you see that… That you’ll be hurt by staying with me, and you’ll cry. And I can't take seeing you like that. I can’t tell you I don’t care, but I will ask you to leave, one last time.” 

Unable to look anymore, he dropped his eyes, staring at their conjoined hands until something lightly touched his forehead. Feeling her lips on his skin sent shudders down his body as tears formed in his eyes. 

“I have cried more time since I left this house than I would have in a lifetime by your side. My love, nothing hurts worse than being apart from you.” She could only whisper, the sounds getting stuck in her throat. “Please, Sae, please let me back in.” 

 Saeyoung looked back up, into MC's red-rimmed eyes. How could he ever refuse her? With a simple nod of his head, Saeyoung reached for her, clutching her tightly in a breathtaking hug. And MC’s hold was just as strong. 

Maybe he was wrong. Could this time be the good route, the one where he can actually be happy? Saeyoung didn’t know, but with the feeling of MC in his arms, he doesn’t see how life could get any better. 

.  .  . 

After hearing the conversation, Vanderwood stood awkwardly in the kitchen, wondering when it’s would be okay for him to come back out.

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[loveafterthefact]

Love After the Fact Chapter 57: Wasting Time with a New Friend

Lotor makes some new friends. Together, they discover that word of Lance and Keith's union has reached video game developers in the worst, best way.

Featuring Leakira in the role of comic relief (Not to offend Leakira fans, this is meant to be a fun, happy place. I just thought it might be funny little detail) XD

First  Previous  Next

Lotor finds them sleeping in a hallway. A much-needed distraction.

More specifically, it’s an adolescent Olkari with orange feelers, dressed in green and white garb stained with red dust. They’re incredibly small, even for a smaller species. Pretty adorable, like a wolf cub.

So obviously he nudges them with his foot.

“Can I help you?” the kit growls, amber eyes glaring up at him.

“You’re sleeping in a hallway.”

“And? What’s your point?”

“... You know what? I’m not really sure.”

With a groan, the kit sits up, tugging on their feelers. “So what are you up to, Mr. Prince?”

“Oh not much. Wandering around, looking for trouble.” He’s actually looking for a distraction, but that’s almost the same thing as trouble.

“Trouble, huh?” The Olkari smirks. “I’m Pidge. Lance’s resident tech genius and vent crawler- I mean spy.”

“Ah-haha, I see. You’re one of his ‘associates’.” Lotor grins, helps Pidge to their feet.

“Yes. Working for Lance usually involves some level of trouble. What are the princes up to today, anyway?”

“Lance is with Allura. She’s having a hard morning. Keith is with Thace, our emergency medic and reproductive specialist.”

“Oh, really? Making sure his junk works?”

“That’s the idea. Why?”

“It’d be awesome to have some dirt on Keith. He’s just so perfect.” Pidge skips down the hallway, a curious prince following behind them. “The worst thing he’s done is drink a bit too much, find his happy place at a party, and get really snuggly with Lance.”

Following Pidge into what should have been an old, empty storeroom, Lotor’s eyes widen in surprise. The typically ignored room is set up with monitors and a work table covered with Balmeran crystals and a few other tools.

“Where did you get some of these tools?” he asks, eyeing a choice laser of Galra design.

“I crawled through the tunnels underneath the actual labs and stole them. I’m welcome in the labs, of course. I just don’t want to share my work with them. The field of science is rife with thieves.”

“You found the tunnels already?” Lotor stares. There are tunnels all under the mountain, his ancestors making the massive peak into an insect hive. There are escape tunnels and hidden caches and underground pools and even a forge made of volcanic glass that he discovered as a small boy.

He still likes to go down there on the rare occasion he can find the time. Someday, he’ll take his children down there, and tell them all about the stories carved into the ancient walls.

“Yep! Anyway, let’s see if I can hack into Thace’s equipment. And by that I mean give me like, thirty ticks because I can definitely do it.” While Pidge types away on their computer, Lotor sits himself on the floor, eyeing a faint square cut into the stone. Most people don’t notice, don’t know to look for the fine edges carved into the floor. “Ooh… Interesting.”

“What’s interesting?” Lotor asks. “Is Keith okay?”

“You really care for him, don’t you?” Amber eyes smile at him, intuitive.

“Of course I do! He’s my cousin! And my friend!” And he has more than his fair share of health problems. Lotor himself was not a healthy kit, so he understands the worries that his cousin might have.

“Aw-w. You’re just a big ol’ sweetheart, aren’t ya?” Pidge turns back to their computer. “What’s interesting is that Keith is… surprisingly healthy. His weight and body mass index are good… Thace is optimistic about a successful pregnancy.”

“Why is that interesting?” Lotor scratches his head, frowning a little.

“Because our boys requested contraceptives, probably due to health concerns.”

“Miscarriage risks are higher for him. That’s partially due to his sex, and partially due to his condition. Do you think they’ll use contraceptives?”

“Pfft. No. They’re young, they’re stupid, and they both want pups. I doubt Lance can keep it in his pants.”

“What about Keith?”

“He’s shy.” Pidge shrugs like that explains everything. It kind of does. Keith’s priorities are probably more of the cuddling variety than the ‘aggressive hugging’ variety. “Can I have some of your blood?”

“Hm? Uh… How much blood?”

“I dunno. A few vials? Maybe I’ll swab your cheek too? It might help with my experiments.”

“And what might those be?”

“I’m trying to invent Altean-friendly prosthetics. It’s not going well. Alteans are stupid inside and out.” Pidge gathers their tools to stick him, and Lotor stares. This tiny little Olkari is far more than they appear. “Who do you think will kill Lance for getting Keith pregnant? Krolia or Shiro?”

But they're young, still playful and carefree.

“Hm… My money’s on Krolia. Or the creepy friend.”

“Adam? Oh, he’s softer than he looks. More likely he’ll live vicariously through their children and terrorize anyone who tries to mess with them.” Pidge sticks a swab in his cheek as they fill a second vial with his blood. “Your fangs are adorable.”

“Thanks?” Lotor regards them. “So you do science, you do people… What don’t you do?”

“Relationships.” Pidge cleans the crook of his arm, bandaging the spot where they bled him. “And genders. Those are for more primitive individuals.”

Lotor laughs. “More highly evolved, are you?”

“Exactly. Unlike Alteans. Stupid, scaley assholes with stupid, cranky cells.”

“I don’t get it. What exactly is the problem?” Lotor peers over Pidge’s shoulder as they examine his cells under their microscope.

“Not sure, but Alteans have some odd properties that make their biology incompatible with metal, coral, bone, wood, and other prosthetic materials. When used, the Altean’s cells refuse to accept the forgein material, even if it’s biocompatible. Hence, their cells are stupid.”

“So it would seem. How are my cells?”

“Hm… I'll have to run some of my own, secret tests. I may try to culture your skin cells to figure out how it all works.”

“Have at it. Can I interest you in a secret?”

“Always!” The young Olkari’s eyes shine, eager to learn. To know. A person after his own heart.

“Most of Altea’s technology is rediscovered. Thousands of decaphoebs ago, there was what’s known as The Forgetting. The Altean’s powers were quite suddenly drastically altered, and their society descended into chaos. Much of their technology was lost, then rediscovered within the last few milophoebs.”

“No fucking way!”

“Way. This includes their lauded Teludav technology.”

“Those fakers! How have I not heard of this?”

“I know! It’s their best kept secret. Also, beneath Mount Sil’brana is a petrified forest.”

“Oh, that’s so cool!” Pidge makes a note on their datapad. “I wonder… I don’t know if I could interface with that or not. Probably not, since it’s no longer organic, but then again perhaps I could reach the echo?”

“Echo?”

“All organic life leaves behind an echo. Sometimes, I can reach that echo. I’d be great at solving murders!”

“Well, if ever I am murdered, do find my killer. I’m sure my wife would appreciate it.”

“Unless she did the murdering,” Pidge snickers.

“Some days, it wouldn’t surprise me at all. She’d say it’s my fault, but…”

“Pregnancy.”

“Yeah. How do you think Keith will be when he gets pregnant?”

“He’s relatively mild-mannered as long as Lance keeps him happy, so either unbelievably psychotic or unbearably sweet.”

“He is really sweet. I honestly didn’t expect it when he first arrived. Lance is a little… He’s reserved, but also high-strung at the same time?”

“He definitely can be. But he can also be very playful. Those two are either quiet and reserved together, or cutting up and goofing off together. But Lance is the high-strung one, for sure. Keith just wants to know whose head to crack open. Lance wants to know every single little detail about everything.”

“So he’s a control freak.”

“Little bit, yeah. We’ve all got our thing.” Pidge smiles. “But Lance gave me a home when mine was lost. He had no reason to do that. He didn’t know what I was capable of.”

“I had assumed you were on Altea for research?” Lotor's curious, but won't push.

“No. Though I do enjoy research. For example, I have the new Phantasm Killbot game. I just got to the first visual novel part where they introduce the characters and their little side plots and all. Wanna help me out? For research?” The Olkari holds up a controller.

“Yeah alright. Anything for research.” Lotor takes the controller, waits for the character introduction screen. He’s played this game before. “Player one… Leandro.”

“Player Two… Akira.”

The screen loads.

“Uh… That’s… Interesting. Is that- Does that look like Lance to you?” It really does, at least to Lotor. The only difference is that ‘Leandro’ has brown hair and his scales are a very pale blue.

“Wow, that’s weird. Okay. Let’s see where this goes- Oh my fuck, this is going to be good.”

Lotor can’t help but agree, staring at a screen of a smirking ‘Leandro’ lounging with a wide-eyed Galra presumably named ‘Akira’. The Galra has purple hair and golden irises, dressed in what might loosely be referred to as clothing.

It’s exceptionally weird, even weirder given that Akira is the name of Keith’s father, Lotor’s uncle.

“I cannot wait to tell my cousin about this,” Lotor breathes, coming to the realization of exactly what’s before him.

“Yes! We have to! Right now!” Pidge stands, tugs on his arm.

“Well, let’s not be too hasty.” Lotor stares at the screen, that mischievous part of his brain clicking and whirring. “I mean, we have to do our research, right?”

“You know…” Pidge taps their chin. “You might be onto something.”

“I mean it’s just courtesy, right? Making sure we can give them all the information we possibly can?”

“You’re absolutely right. Okay, so you get first choice for dialogue and it looks like Not-Keith has a prompt for us.”

“Oh, gods. Okay, I am so sorry, Keith… Let’s see, here.”

…

Akira: We can’t keep meeting like this. What if people find out?

Leandro: I’m a prince, my sweet. I do what I want.

Akira: But you could be killed!

Leandro: You’re worth dying for.

Leandro: It’s my fault, anyway. I just couldn’t resist you.

Akira: It’s not your fault. I let you have me.

Leandro: You should let me have you again.

Akira: Please… I need it…

*Kiss Passionately*

Leandro: Oh, my sweet. You’re in season!

Akira: Make love to me, and I will give you a son.

…

“I feel dirty,” Lotor mutters. “This is what’s passing for entertainment right now?”

“It’s so bad! I love it!” Pidge snickers.

“Lance is going to be mortified.”

“No, he won’t.” The two new friends turn to see Adam leaning in the doorway, smirking.

“And why, pray tell, is that?” Lotor asks, one eyebrow almost reaching his hairline.

“Lance is bigger than that. He’ll be filled with a sense of… well-being.”

“Oh, gross! Adam!” Pidge chucks a wrench at the Altean’s head, the trio laughing as he dodges, then retrieves it for them. “I don’t want to hear about my friend’s dick!”

“Am I wrong?”

“No, and I hate it.” Pidge drags Adam to the floor, sits in his lap. “Okay, you can help us. What should Leandro say next? ‘A daughter would be fine’ or ‘Honor me with the gift of your flesh’?”

“Who the quiznak wrote this?” Adam mutters. “And we want ‘Honor me with the gift of your flesh.’”

“I don’t know, but I will find out. And kill them,” Lotor mutters.

“Easy on the instincts, Mr. Prince.” Pidge continues to the next cut scene.

“It’s nothing to do with instincts! I just hate that I had to read that!” Lotor sighs. “At least that cut scene is over. Now we have… Brothers, Sven and Kuron? Lots of new characters for this one.”

Adam blinks, gaping at the screen. “What. The fuck-”

...

Allura sighs, running a hand through her loose curls. It's been a rough morning, one that doesn't promise to get easier. A howling chorus of laughter cuts through her stressed thoughts. Cracking open a storeroom, she spies her husband, Adam, and Pidge laughing away at a video game.

"I wOuLd DiE fOr AkIrA," Pidge mocks, cackling.

"Leandro, please!" Lotor laughs, cutting through a false simper as he pretends to swoon. "I couldn't live without you!"

"That's such a toxic sentiment, honestly." Adam shakes his head, but his eyes are glittering bright.

Shaking her head, Allura leans in the doorway, settling a hand on her slightly protruding stomach. Life is never perfect, not for anyone. But seeing her husband playing around and having fun with their friends -his new friends- suggests that everything might still turn out alright. Or at least, not as awful as it sometimes seems.

[insatiableimagines]

bon voyage (OC x OC) (I)

Request from (suneoost on Wattpad): What do you think about a story of a vacation love romance (with a Hans' type character) BxG (girl is quiet but not afraid to do something/try something new) and they met on a boat or at their vacation destination and their relationship evolved quickly, or something like that?

Starring: Caitlyn x Aidan  (Own Characters/Creations for the purpose of this one-shot)

----

Of all the times to lose the key to my room, it had to be the night before my next big adventure.

"Oh come on, where did I leave you?" I muttered in irritation under my breath, eyes flickering past the several tables crowded with leftovers on plates, and empty wine glasses.

I had been starving earlier this evening and rather than order room service, I had decided to show up for the dinner banquet held on the beautiful open deck floor of the cruise. My appetite was now put to a rest but I certainly hadn't signed up for losing my key for that price. It could be anywhere! Especially considering I'd moved around a lot to talk to different people and break out of my shell.

"Do you need help with anything, miss?"

One of the caterers nearby, clearing up the dinner tables, shot me a curious look. I bit down on my lip, wondering if I should ask her for help. Searching for lost keys was definitely not part of her job description though, and she looked busy enough as it were.

"No, it's nothing. I'm fine," I answered with a small laugh. The woman shrugged and went back to her work. Frowning to myself, I scanned the area. The table where I'd last been seated was to the far left. It would be best to start the search off there, before I went to the main desk for a replacement key.

Determined, I walked over and scoured the desk for the glint of metal. Maybe, it had fallen somewhere? With a sigh, I got down on all fours and lifted the white tablecloth to check beneath the table, crawling underneath it.

There was an assortment of things - some of questionable nature. Plastic candy wraps, a used lipstick, and what looked suspiciously like... I scrunched my nose up in disgust. As romantic as this cruise may seem, I hadn't placed it for a wild one. Note taken. I started to back out from under the table when I heard an eerily familiar voice that made me freeze altogether.

"Well, well, I didn't expect the deck to be dishing out this kind of view."

That's when it hit me. I was wearing a short dress...on all fours...with my head under a table. Anyone passing by would have found that rather...odd but he...he would never let the opportunity to go. I felt something brush across the back of my thighs and yelped, my head banging the table. Silver ware clattered at the contact but the sound of his laughter drowned it out. Rubbing the top of my head, I hurriedly crawled out from my little sanctum and glared up at the man that had made my vacation a living hell.

"Aidan."

He stood there, tall and proud, his full lips pulled into that outrageously infuriating albeit attractive smirk. Despite his broad shoulders and strong physique, his unruly mop of dark hair and the boyish gleam in his sea blue eyes made me blush like a school girl. Because that's what being around him reduced me to...a blubbering mess of hormones and lowly quips that made me feel like a teenager riding the heights of puberty.

"Looking for this?"

My eyes caught what he was holding in his hand, more like dangling in front of my face.

My key!

Leaping to my feet, I nearly stumbled back and fell again but managed to catch my balance, reaching for my ticket back to bed. He held his hand higher, too high. High enough to keep me wanting without the promise of getting it.

"Give it to me!"

"That sounds a lot like what you said the first night."

My mouth fell open, appalled that he would bring it up again.

"Now," he took a step closer to me and I immediately took a huge one back, my hip hitting the table hard. I turned my face away when he loomed closer, his lips brushing against my cheek. "Why don't you be a good little girl and get down on all fours again? We could pick things up where we left off..."

That was it. I summoned the strength to resist his advances and shoved him on the chest, hard. Caught off-guard, Aidan stumbled back, his thick brows furrowing momentarily before his face broke out into a wide grin.

"I was only joking."

Joking or not, that was not funny. My heart beat faster, my skin still tingling from the feel of his lips against my skin. Not even close.

"Key. Now."

"Alright, alright." Aidan stepped forward and for a second, I thought he was really going to give it over. I think that's what he meant to do as well, before he thought better of it and secured his palm around my escape in one tight fist. "On second thought, let me walk you to your door."

"What? No. That won't be necessary!"

"I insist."

Before I could even protest, Aidan stalked off in the direction of the stairs, throwing me a teasing smirk over his shoulder. If he weren't so goddamn smooth, I'd have murdered him by now. I caught up to him fairly quickly, Aidan having slowed his pace to make sure I did and we walked side-by-side in silence.

When Jane, my older sister, had given me a free ticket on the three-week Caribbean cruise for my birthday, I was thrilled. A vacation is exactly what I needed. A break away from work and the mundane reality my life had settled into...and an invitation for adventure, an opportunity to break out from the shy, quiet person I've always been. No one would know me here, after all. No one would know the hard-working yet quiet introvert, the Plain Jane I'd been growing up. I could finally explore a different side of myself...finally, have fun.

And I did.

I did chance upon an entirely new spectrum of who I am. Someone, who wasn't afraid to speak up and be curt when needed, someone who had the nerve to put an irritable idiot in his place if needed to...someone who'd slept with said idiot on the third night of the cruise.

I should have been more cautious that night. Alcohol and I never mixed and yet, I'd shot down more vodka that one night than I had my entire life. Fast forward to the next morning where I'd woken up with a pounding migraine and a man I'd never once seen before in my bed.

Aidan.

He'd constantly pursued me since that night, popping up coincidentally wherever I was on the cruise. With his witty remarks, and dashingly good looks, he had a ready crowd of women behind him and yet I was his sole target. I wasn't sure whether to be honored or worried but all I felt every time I saw him was anger...and just a tinge of excitement.

He brought out the worst in me. I shouldn't feel that way at all.

"Well then, princess, looks like we're here."

I snapped out of my thoughts and realized Aidan had come to a stop in front of my door. Shooting him another unfriendly glower, I stepped forward and took the key. Surprisingly, he didn't put up a fight. I could feel him behind me as I inserted the key, my hand shaking a little, and turned it to the right, the door clicking open. I even paused, for the shortest of time, to see if he would stop me but he didn't.

Slightly disappointed, I opened the door and was about to step in when I felt him. Press against my back, grab my wrist and hold me. He was so gentle, a vast difference to the way he had continued to tease and irk me over the past week and a half. I gulped, searching for my voice but he had a way of silencing me with just his touch. I hated that.

"Caitlyn."

I closed my eyes, drunken memories of that night flooding through my mind. Him, pressing me up against this very door, kissing my neck as I'd giggled and sighed...us, tumbling on the bed and laughing together as we took off our clothes... I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to remember the rest. Why did it have to come back to me now?

I felt Aidan's breath on the back of my neck, his hand trailing up my arm and resting on the crook of my shoulder.

"Spend the day with me tomorrow."

My eyes flashed open.

Tomorrow morning, we'd be touching land. It was a day of exploration with the tour guides around the island, a day I'd been looking forward to as I'm sure everyone else was. He was asking me to give that up? Or was he asking me to share it with him instead?

"I want to get to know you," he whispered, his breath causing goosebumps to rise up on my skin. His hand trailed up my neck causing a fluttering of my heart, cupping my jaw and directing my head toward him, to look at him.

"Please."

This was so sudden. So different to his usual behavior. Yet, I couldn't find it in me to deny him. His sea-blue eyes swirled with hope and I found myself wanting to be the one to fulfil them. With a deep, shaky breath, I nodded my consent.

Aidan smiled. He dropped his hand and stepped back, giving me enough space to breathe but I wasn't sure I wanted it anymore, feeling rather cold all of a sudden. If Aidan noticed my body's reaction, unnaturally aching closer to him, he didn't say a thing.

"Then, I'll see you in the morning."

"Okay," I whispered shyly, a little dumbfounded. His smile turned into an ear-to-ear grin and I watched as he turned away, his hands slipping into his pockets and left, humming a happy tune to himself.

What had just happened? Had I just said 'yes' to spending the entire day of the tour tomorrow with the man that irritates me to my wits' end? A man I knew virtually nothing about?

Groaning under my breath at my idiocy, I turned and entered my room. I needed a good night's rest for tomorrow. It better be worth it.

He better be.

----

/drop a message here if you have a request/

© Beatrice Manuel

[allonsysilvertongue]

Silver Pen

During a particularly long stretch of writer’s block, Haymitch Abernathy discovered a world of his own making. (AU)

Chapter 9: The Novel

Time slowed and in that moment, there was only them in that room, blindly exploring each other; eager to touch and eager to please.

The passion was exhilarating. Haymitch had never felt so alive as he was in this moment with her. When she dug her nails into the flesh of his shoulder, he hissed in pleasure, thrusting deeper into her as he drew satisfaction from her soft moans and burying his fact into the crook of her neck.

The instance his skin touched hers, he had felt such raw intensity and it showed in every kiss, every caress and every move. Even in bed, Effie was just like herself. She was loud and did not hold back. From the moment the first moan had escaped her lips when he let his tongue have a taste of her, she had been vocal; sighing in delight, whimpering with need, breathing his name into his ear.

It drove him mad.

So he made sure she was mad with need just as well. He fucked her only to stop and watched her body writhe and he would start again, this time harder, until at one point, she was begging for him to finish.

That was his undoing, to have her completely at his mercy so when she rocked her hips against his, clutching on to him dearly, he came apart.

He rolled off her and lay on his back, his breathing coming out in ragged puffs. Haymitch licked his lips, the taste of her still lingered and he thought to himself that he would never get bored of this.

Her fingers crept across the small space on the bed between them to hold his hand only to have him retract his hand back. Effie pulled back, a little uncertain that she had crossed some unspeakable boundaries but when he drew her into his arms to let her snuggled into him, she tossed him a soft smile.

There something about their sweaty skin pressing against each other as they held on close to one another that made him drift off to sleep.

Morning came and brought with it a sudden maddening rush once Effie realised that she had a mere half an hour before the time for the viewing. Haymitch said nothing even when she ushered him out of the house.

The short walk from there to his house was filled with a rising panic that he had just slept with Effie Trinket, a character he wrote.

A walk of shame, he thought bemused as he glanced behind his shoulder to see Effie by the bay window making last minute preparations.

Settling down in his kitchen, he made himself coffee which was laced generously with liquor. He tried to push down the recurrent memories of the night before – the smell of her skin, the taste of her lips and the sound of her voice when she came apart under his touch – only to fail miserably. She was all he could think about and he sat there trying to convince himself that there was nothing wrong with the situation.

It was a losing battle so in a bid to distract himself, he trudged to his study. Sitting down on the worn out chair, his fingers hovered over the keyboard and then he started typing.

The words flowed like it had not done for months. It came easily to him and he started building Panem up from the Dark Days. He had always been interested in the politics around the world so he weaved that into the story and created a dictator by the name of Coriolanus Snow and an empire which he ruled with fear and an iron fist. Drawing inspirations from Effie’s advice, he began to picture what would happen if his world was ruled by this man and he wrote that in, too.

This was a far cry from the modern Hollywood romance Effie and him had plotted about the night before except for the star-crossed lovers’ portion which would have to do, but it was still something. It was definitely a sequel to The Plague and by the time he realised it, Effie was standing at the doorway to his study. He glanced up to see her watching him with a fond smile.

“You’re writing again,” she observed. “Did you find your inspiration?”

Standing up, he came around to where Effie was and locked the door to the study behind him.

“Don’t want to jinx it but guess I did,” he said and gingerly rested a hand on her waist.

She took that as an invitation. Locking her arms around his neck, she kissed him deeply and whatever shame he felt earlier vanished. He pinned her against the wall.

“Dare I say it… I gave you the inspiration you needed,” she grinned, slipping her hand passed the waistband of his trousers.

He let his head fall against her shoulder as she worked him into a state and hours later, they were both in his bed, the sheets tangled around their naked body and their muscles aching in a good way.

Just as surprisingly as it began, he found himself slightly unsettled by the fact that somewhere along the way, Effie had moved in. She was spending her days in his house when she was not out at Peeta’s bakery and the night in his bed. During the morning when she was not around, he locked himself in his study, writing away. In a way, it was almost domestic and he found himself not minding it as much as he thought it would.

The second novel was beginning to take shape. The characters he created including those that came alive were slowly being written into his story as he had intended them to be. He couldn’t be more satisfied than he was right then.

He was in a good place and this was not something he would carelessly admit but he felt that way.

He was surrounded with people he came to love. They were real to him – the things they did and the path they paved for themselves here was all real – and he began to flip the entire scenario in his head. In his mind, he was borrowing them as characters for his book. It was no different than JK Rowling loosely using her teacher as Severus Snape, he rationalised.

Wasn’t that what Effie had wanted in the first place - for him to draw inspiration from the people around him to write his book?

He was wary at first that he might be rewriting their lives but even as Katniss volunteered in place for her sister in his book, the Katniss who lived next door to him seemed to remain the same.

Yes, he thought as he turned off the light in the study to joined Effie in bed that night, he was in a good place.

When the morning light spilled into the room, Haymitch stretched his hand to the side of the bed he had begun to think as belonging to Effie only to find it empty which in itself wasn’t unusual.

He trudged down the stairs into the kitchen dressed in nothing but his sweatpants but when he saw Effie pacing the room looking mildly distressed, the sleepiness disappeared and he became alert in a second.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his gaze darting this way and that trying to locate the source of her anxiety.

At the sound of his voice, she raised her head.

“I can’t leave,” she moaned, sounding a little hysterical. “I tried to leave this town but I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t?” Haymitch frowned. “What do you – hold on – why are you going to leave?”

An unsettling feeling washed over him. He knew the past weeks with her were too good to be true. He never could have a moment of peace and this was it – the other shoe was dropping. His stomach coiled as he braced himself for the worst.

“You’re leaving me?” he narrowed his eyes. “You seeing someone else?”

“Haymitch,” she ran a hand over her long locks, “I cannot for the life of me remember my life in the city. Is something wrong with me? How long have I been here?”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Effs.”

“Are you not listening to me?” she snapped. “What is my life like in the city?”

“I – “

He faltered. They had never talked about it. He had never asked because everything he needed to know about her he already did but even so, the fact that she might have had a life in a different place before coming here had not even crossed his mind. His head was beginning to spin with questions. Could she even have a life in the city since when he wrote her into existence, she had immediately come to exist here in this town?

“Exactly,” she pursed her lips. “I remember nothing much. It is as if that period of my life did not exist.”

Haymitch would have waved off this absurdity except it really wasn’t. It was a possibility that her life there never did exist.

"I woke up this morning and I thought about my cat,” she started. “I left my cat in my apartment. So naturally, I tried to picture my apartment but nothing comes to mind. I have a cat,” she repeated. “She must be all alone. I saw a cat wandered into your backyard looking at your geese and… I have a cat.”

"Effie…”

“Where do I stay before… before this? What is my address?”

“You don’t have a cat,” he insisted. “You never had a cat.”

"How would you know that?"

"Because I – What do you mean you can’t leave?”

“I got in the car,” she explained. “I wanted to make the drive to the city for my cat. I wanted to bring her here so I drove out. I reached the square only to realise that I cannot remember where I stay or how to get there, and – Haymitch,” she looked up at him with bright pleading blue eyes, “I realised I do not remember much else. What is wrong with me? I need the doctor. I need a brain scan – I could have a tumour. I need to know.”

Stepping forward, he grabbed both her arms. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”

"No,” she denied. “We cannot be sure until I have a doctor look me over. You need to take this seriously, Haymitch.”

“I am,” he assured her.

Somehow, he was beginning to think that this fracture in her mind was because of him. After all, she was in his second novel together with Katniss, Peeta, Finnick and Annie. He never knew how he even brought them to life and who could really say what would happen now that he was using their characters to write them back?

Haymitch made a mental note to really talk to Peeta or Finnick just to see if they were showing any disparities as Effie.

“Do you remember when you asked me about alternate universes?”

His heart stopped at this sudden, unexpected question.

"Yeah,” he answered cautiously.

“I have been having dreams lately… nightmares. I dreamt of prisons and….” She shuddered. “It was horrible.”

A terrible feeling pierced through his heart.

“That never happened,” he told her and he vowed to keep any pain from her character on the pages. “It’s not going to happen.”

Effie shot him an odd look.

“Why do you talk as if you know all there is to know about me?”

Haymitch stared hard at her and took a few steps back. He pinched the bridge of his nose, let his hand fall in dismay at his side as he breathed out. Effie did not belong in this world. Neither did the others and this domesticity he was fooling himself into was never meant for him or them.

“I don't remember how I met Katniss and Peeta," she informed him when he was quiet for too long.

When he answered, his voice was flat. "You were their agent."

"Yes, but I do not remember them walking into my office or meeting them for the first time. I asked Peeta and he couldn't remember it too."

“Oh, fuck,” he breathed out.

It was happening to Peeta.

The discrepancies were starting to show. The plot holes were becoming glaring.

"You're not real," he admitted with his back turned to her. He couldn’t look at her. It hurt too much. He wanted her to be real. He wanted them to be real. They were his. "You're not real, sweetheart."

I know some of you are saying that you don't know where i'm going with this but bear with me. We're nearly there.

Leave me a review. What do you think of how they fell into a domestic routine or how Effie will take this news?