#don't ask okay? it's just something about him in this t-shirt that is kinda tight to his biceps and chest okay? okay 🥵

[itsallaboutbl]

Poom Phuripan as Joe My Stand In, ep. 4

[glorious-spoon]

like an empty bottle takes the rain [9-1-1 | Buck & Eddie | Buck/Tommy]

~1k words | friendship | pre-relationship | sexuality realization

-

"Hey, can I ask you something?"

He senses, rather than sees, Buck's shift to his left, the way his head comes up, his attention sharpening. He doesn't look over, though. He keeps his eyes on the stretch of backyard in his field of vision. The demolition portion of the job is pretty much finished, the old rotting lumber from Eddie's sagging back deck stacked up to be hauled away, the floor joists still open to the raw earth underneath. They're both kicked back on the half-finished edge, beers in hand, feet dangling. The high midsummer sun beats down, and Eddie's shirt is sticking to him with sweat.

"Yeah, of course, anything," Buck says.

Eddie nods. He rolls his sweating beer bottle between his palms and doesn't speak for a moment. It's not because he doesn't know what he wants to say; it's not because he hasn't thought it through. If anything he's thought it through too much. Enough to know exactly how exposing the question alone is—to anyone, let alone Buck, who knows him better than anyone else in the world. If he says it out loud, there's no taking it back. There's no returning to a world where this is just a question that lives inside his head. It'll be something that other people know about him. That Buck knows about him.

He wonders if this was what it felt like for Buck, months ago, when he stumbled through a quiet confession in his loft and watched Eddie with frightened eyes for the three seconds it took him to jumpstart his brain and pull Buck into a tight hug. There's always going to be a world after he says it. And knowing how gently Buck would hold that knowledge still doesn't quite make the fear go.

"Eddie?" Buck asks, quieter. 

"Yeah," Eddie says. He takes a sip of his beer, and his voice is hoarse, and he knows he's lost any chance he had of trying to make this sound casual. He could just drop it—Buck would let him—but he doesn't want to do that. "I was wondering. You and Tommy—how did you know?"

There's a soft intake of breath. "That I was into guys? Or that I was into him?"

"Either." Eddie shrugs tightly. "Both."

"Um," Buck says. Out of the corner of his eye, Eddie watches him duck his head, rub a sheepish hand over the back of his neck. "Well. I kinda only actually figured it out when he kissed me."

Eddie lets out a startled burst of laughter. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Buck says. The amused chagrin in his voice is enough that Eddie can bring himself to look over at him. He's blushing, scruffy and a little sunburnt in a ratty LAFD t-shirt that says KINARD across the back. Eddie has been trying really hard not to feel some kind of way about that since Buck turned up this morning, and only half succeeding.

"Sorry," Eddie says, and takes another gulp of his beer. "I'm not trying to, like…"

"No, it is, it's…I mean, in retrospect, it feels really obvious. You know? Like, when he came over after the basketball game—"

"After you broke my ankle," Eddie interjects, like he does every time the subject comes up.

"After I sprained your ankle, accidentally, which I still feel really bad about."

"As you should," Eddie says, grinning, feeling a little more like he's back on solid ground when Buck scoffs. "Okay. Go ahead."

"Anyway," Buck says. "We were just, you know, talking in the kitchen and, and—flirting, I guess, or at least I was kinda flirting, but I didn't really think about it like that. It didn't feel that different from—I don't know. I just thought he was nice and cool and I wanted him to pay attention to me, and he was, and it was like…" he trails off, shakes his head, laughing. "And then he kissed me, and it was like—oh, okay, that's what all that was. That was the missing piece, you know?"

"It just clicked," Eddie offers, hoarse.

"Yeah. Exactly. It clicked, and everything suddenly made sense."

"Oh," Eddie says, and then he takes a drink of his beer, gazing out across the backyard. The bird houses that Chris and Buck set up years ago, the paint starting to fade now, the patio chairs stacked against the back fence along with the fresh lumber for the deck. He's not really seeing it, though. He's remembering a night in Buck's kitchen, years ago: a beer in his hand, watching Buck move toward him with that cocky tilt to his smile, an unnameable tension thrumming between them. It wasn't the first time, but it was the first time he remembers it feeling like that: sharp and electric, like he was on the verge of doing something reckless.

What would have changed, he's wondering now, if either of them had thought to cross that line? If he'd grabbed the front of Buck's shirt and pulled him into a kiss, would Buck have kissed him back? 

The question is moot in any case. At the time, Eddie didn't know that was even an option, for either of them. And Buck's with Tommy. He keeps saying it's not that serious, but it's been two months, and he's still walking around with that expression of gobsmacked joy half the time. They've been sleeping together for a while now, which Eddie knows because Buck is incapable of discretion, especially when he's happy.

It was good, he told Eddie, afterward. It was like—it was new, and I felt like such an idiot about everything, because it's been so long since I had no idea what I was doing, but it was so good, and Eddie, who has heard way more about Buck's sex life over the years than any sensible friend would tolerate, had never heard him sound like that about it: thrilled and breathless, almost shy.

Eddie's not going to fuck with that, especially when he barely even knows what he's feeling here. Jealous, sure, a little bit. But he doesn't know how much of that is wanting Buck, and how much of it is wanting that. The breathless thrill of self-discovery he could hear in Buck's voice, every time.

"Can I ask you something?" Buck says. It's quiet, and when Eddie turns toward him there's something careful in his face.

"Fair's fair."

"You're not just asking out of curiosity, are you?"

Eddie breathes out shakily, presses his lips together, and finally shakes his head. "No. Not just curiosity."

"Okay." Buck lets out a breath and nods, rubbing a hand against his jaw. "Listen, Eddie…"

"I'm not ready to talk about it," Eddie says hastily. "Not yet."

"Okay," Buck says again, gentler. He leans in just enough to bump his shoulder against Eddie's. "If you ever do want to talk about it, I'm here."

Eddie leans back against him, the solid warmth of his body a familiar comfort. There's a tightness in his throat, but it's not a bad thing, not entirely. "Yeah. I know you are."

[arminsumi]

so happy you're writing for gojo and getou!! You make my day fr <3

Thinking of ex getou hc... he annoyingly drapes himself over you like your not broken up, still brings you lunch and snacks when he knows your craving them, hugs you for way too long Infront of other men until you break and take him again <33

He would not be afraid of being toxic if it ment getting you back

˗ˏˋ꒰ 🍒꒱ ex-boyfriend

GETO x f.reader

A/N: i am in pieces at the word choice 'drapes' 😩 thank you for your request — so happy i can make your day 💗 i kinda... wrote an excessive amount srry if i deviated a bit i was in a real suguru state of mind

♪ NOW PLAYING: don't blame me, your love made me crazy

Wc: >900

Overview; Suguru just can't let you go. His mad love reels you back into his arms.

Content; fluff, (ex.bf) headcanons

Warnings; light toxicity, light obsessiveness/possessiveness (?), jealousy, he doesn't let you leave

arminsumi's library

— He is the definition of the "I'm not her ex" ex-boyfriend. Anyone who asks "Did you two split?" will be met with a firm "No. We're just working things out." from Geto before you can even open your mouth to speak.

— Soft, good-smelling, and good-looking; his aura permeates through the air of your apartment as soon as he walks in. He unashamedly invited himself over and said "Aren't you lonely without me? C'mon admit it. I'll make some tea, do you want? Okay then, I'll make you one anyways."

— Behind those abyssal eyes are all his unchanged feelings for you; his one and only. He can't move on. You have a death grip on his mind; he thinks about you in the shower, on the road, walking to the store, while shopping. Daydreams of you are plastered throughout his routines.

— He engulfs you in a consuming hug and peers down at you with a tender look. He's so much bigger than you; the broadness of his shoulders are laughable in comparison to yours. "Missed you, baby." he says, usually pressing a kiss to your cheek (smirking when you swat him away like a fly), and he says that a lot; you can feel the weight in each word.

— Of course... when in front of other men, his hugs seem to get clingier. Heavier. Longer. More possessive. He hangs on your body as if he's the clothes on your back. His scent lingers on you.

— Still lends you his oversized T-shirts and insists that you wear them before heading out for coffee with your coworker, Gojo. Asks for 'proof' pics that you really are wearing his shirt.

— He calls you by the nickname you always favored, the one that had the power to weaken your knees to the point of falling to them. Paired with that silken, dangerously attractive voice and the yearning glint in his eyes, you're a goner.

— He's always been able to read you like an unravelling scroll. As if you're a painting and he's an artist, he knows every brush stroke that creates an artwork like you.

So when you push him away, he knows that you actually want him to hold you tight. When you tell him to give up, you actually want him to try harder. And when you shakily answer no to his inquiry about "Do you still feel for me?" he knows you actually mean yes.

— Leans in to whisper something in your ear when you've got company or guests over at a party. He loves forming a barrier of intimacy between you and him in a public setting; he thinks that they should all witness how capable he still is of flustering you. His heart lurches when you react to his whispers with the same swooning smile as you did in high school.

— He pops up at your workplace, "I got you your favorite." he says with a smooth smile that you instantly succumb to.

— He selfishly drags you back into his arms like Hades mythically dragged Persephone back into the underworld.

— You want to move on from him ? Nope, not happening. He's dead set, completely determined, to dig his way back into your heart.

— Needles of jealousy prick his chest when he sees you laughing because of someone else. He can't stand that, not even for a second, so he invades the conversation and plucks you out of it like you're a gemstone lost among rocks in a dirty river.

"Let's go." he says, "Go where?" you ask, but he whisks you away without answering.

— Honest to god, if he could snatch you away and trap you in a castle, he would. In fact, he can, minus the castle — but his penthouse will have to do 🤷‍♀️

A few lavish invitations to dinner at his place lead to you sleeping over like how you used to. It's all part of his grand scheme. "Baby, come back to me." he murmurs into your hair. "This house is so cold without you."

— Come the morning, you're readying yourself to leave for coffee with your coworker again. Stupid Sunday tradition, Geto hated it. No, he despised it; it made his head spin with anger.

"I've got to go... Suguru?" He blocks your path down the hallway, his silhouette giving hint to his serious frown. It's dark in the hallway, but not darker than his eyes.

"You're not gonna let me leave, are you?"

"No." He admits heavily. "Come on, don't look at me like that; I love you. You'll be safe here. You know what, tomorrow I'll make you your favorite for breakfast, doesn't that sound nice?"

— All these sweet words are said in a smooth, murmuring voice... while his veiny hands firmly plant on the front door and force it shut with a startling bang after you attempted to open it.

"Stay." he demands in a threatening, low voice. "Please?" he lightens it at the end, aware of how scary that probably sounded.

— He's wrapping you around his finger like how he did in the beginning. You coil around his life until, without realizing soon enough, you're back in it.

— Just like that, his love ensnares you once more, and you're happily trapped in his big strong arms.

[thisapplepielife]

Written for @corrodedcoffinfest.

Pretty Goddamn Metal

Day #11 - Prompt: Jeff | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: M | CW: Piercings/Needles, Language | POV: Jeff | Pairing: None | Tags: Jeff & Goodie: Best Friends, Goodie's At Home Piercing Palace, No, No, No, Yes?, Don't Try This At Home Kids, Eddie Munson is a Bit of Freak, In Case Anyone's Forgotten

"Are you sure?" Goodie asks, and Jeff nods. He's sure. 

Well, ninety percent sure. 

Eight-five, maybe. 

He is sure about the piercing, but way less sure about Goodie being the one to do it. Maybe they should get Eddie to at least supervise.

But it's too late for that now. Goodie has the needle, a huge thing that looks like it's probably gonna hurt. 

"That's a big needle." 

"It's a cannula." 

Jeff doesn't know what the difference is. It still looks vicious. 

"Don't worry. I did my ear. And I was an apprentice under my uncle last summer," Goodie says, and Jeff's still gonna worry. 

Especially since he's pretty sure the only experience Goodie has is a two week vacation staying with his uncle in L.A., where he might have watched him work in his tattoo and piercing parlor, but where he definitely hadn't been allowed to help.

And a nipple isn't an ear. It's a hole being pressed through his skin, his very sensitive skin, by his best friend. Who is most definitely not a professional. Or an apprentice. 

Or, even an adult. 

His mom is gonna kill him. 

That's just a given. 

He won't be able to hide it for very long. Especially if Goodie gives him some sort of deadly infection and his nipple falls off. 

As if he can read his mind, Goodie wipes him, the needle, and the jewelry down with rubbing alcohol. 

He's even found sterile gloves. 

Which is all better than nothing, Jeff supposes, if they're gonna do this in the bathroom with no experience or good sense. 

Goodie moves to the ground, slotting between Jeff's knees, and even in the cramped bathroom, he's deceptively spry. Jeff's seen him move through tight spaces where it didn't look like even Gareth would fit. 

Jeff takes a deep breath. 

Goodie very assuredly grabs Jeff's nipple, and then says, "Okay. One. Two," and Goodie shoves it through, not giving him until three. 

It hurts less than he'd anticipated, and it's almost a disappointment that it wasn't somehow more. But, Goodie's already pulling out the cannula, and screwing on the other end of the jewelry. 

Fast, efficient, and with a confidence that Jeff finds alarming. Goodie's definitely a freak.

At least it's over and done with.

And now there's a bar through his nipple that looks like a screw. 

It's pretty goddamn metal. 

"Ready for the other one? Or are you a little bitch?" Goodie asks, already unwrapping the second bar. 

Okay. Apparently he's getting both done. 

And the second one? That motherfucker hurt. Goddamn adrenaline wearing off. 

They don't get infected. Somehow. It's a heavy metal miracle. They are fucking tender for a good week, but then, that's that. 

He's just a guy with pierced nipples now, and only Goodie knows. 

His mom doesn't find out, and neither does Eddie or Gareth. 

Well, not until he doesn't think about it during band practice and pulls his t-shirt up to wipe his face. It's hot as balls in the garage. They really need to upgrade and get the fuck out of this hot box. 

"Jeff's nipples are pierced!" Gareth yells, pointing a drumstick right at his chest. "Guys, Eddie, look! Did we know this?!" 

"I did," Goodie says, unphased by Gareth's over-excited outburst.

And then Eddie has his shirttail in his hand, yanking it back upwards, so he can look closer. 

They're healed, so when Eddie flicks one, it doesn't hurt. But it does feel kinda good, and that isn't something that he wants to associate with Eddie. 

"Stop it," Jeff says, batting Eddie's hand away. 

"Where'd you go to have this done?" Eddie asks, and Jeff gets it. Just like tattoos, piercings aren't exactly legal in Indiana. 

If you don't get them done at the kitchen table, you probably aren't getting them done, period. 

"I have a guy," Jeff says, cryptically. 

"You think he'd do mine?" Gareth asks, looking hopeful. 

"Absolutely not," Goodie answers. 

"Nobody asked you, Goods," Gareth snaps. "I want both done, too," Gareth says. Lifting his layers of shirts, looking at his own nipples. "Maybe barbells. So we don't match."

"Why would you need pierced nipples? Nobody will ever see them," Goodie asks, taunting Gareth. 

"You don't know what my sex life looks like!" Gareth yells, bristling, dropping his shirts and balling up his fists. 

"Uh, yeah, I do. You're still a virgin."

"So are you!" Gareth shouts back. 

This is gonna devolve into name calling and hair pulling sooner rather than later, if Jeff doesn't cool them both down. 

"Easy, both of you," Jeff says. "None of us are drowning in pussy." 

Eddie clears his throat. 

"Or cock," Jeff amends. 

"That's more like it," Eddie says, still eyeing the screw through his left nipple. 

Jeff looks at him, not sure what's going through Eddie's mind, "What?" 

"Can I bite it?" Eddie asks, pantomiming tugging on it with his teeth. 

"No!" Jeff says, "You can't bite my nipple. But thanks for asking first." 

Eddie usually bites without warning, so this is definitely some personal growth. Jeff's proud of him. 

Still not gonna let him, or his teeth, anywhere near it. But at least he asked, and didn't just go for it. That definitely wouldn't have been out of the realm of possibility.

"I'd let you bite mine," Gareth says, petulant, like this is an unreasonable stance for Jeff to take. 

Eddie whips around, hair flying, "Thanks, Gare."

"If Jeff would just tell us who did it. We could all get them done." 

"Mama Jones would have your ass," Goodie says, and Jeff isn't even sure that's true. Gareth is a mama's boy and can do no wrong. His mom might let him do it.

But still. 

They can't all get them done, and become the pierced nipple band. 

"You get something else."

"What're the odds your guy would pierce my dick?" Eddie asks.

"I'd say slim to none, just like the size of your dick," Goodie sasses, and Eddie launches at him, laughing.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @corrodedcoffinfest and follow along with the fun! 🦇

Notes: A quick google search led me to believe that body piercings (outside of ears) was also illegal in Indiana until the late 90s. So that's what I went with here. If that's not true, well, just go with it, lol.

[heeliopheelia]

"let me take care of you. please?" (sunghoon x reader)

genre: fluff, angst word count: 1k requested by nonnie ♡

warnings: it's a comfort fic!! reader is in a really bad mental headspace, crying, mentions of anxiety

a/n: a little sappy but still think it came out kinda cute <3 comfort fics have a special place in my heart!! kinda wish i had such hoon for myself sometimes :))

You struggle to breathe as another sob leaves your tight throat. Face hidden in your hands, you sit with your back leaned on your bed frame.

The couple past days have been difficult for you as the pressure and the overwhelming anxiety have been taking a toll on your well being. You've never been the one to share your problems or struggles with other people, always being too afraid of burdening them with your worries. So for the longest you've been taking care of your mental problems all by yourself and as much as you've always thought you had it under control, you've finally reached your breaking point as today all of the emotions came crashing down on you with a doubled strength.

You didn't contact anyone, leaving your phone laying on the bed on a do not disturb mode. Being too much into your own head space, you never even hear your boyfriend's voice calling out for you as the door of your apartment slams shut. It's the second time that your name leaves his lips that you finally snap out of it and come back to your senses.

With a gasp, you quickly scramble to your feet and rush to the bathroom, closing the door quickly as you hear Sunghoon stepping into your room. God, you can't let him see you in such state. No one's ever seen you at your lowest and you weren't planning on letting it happen any time soon.

"YN?" He asks with confusion, hesitantly knocking at the locked door. You bring your hand up to your lips, trying to muffle the sobs that don't seem to stop any time soon. "Are you okay? You haven't been answering anyone's calls for the entire day."

You wait couple seconds until you're sure your voice won't betray you. "I'm fine. Just wasn't feeling well, sorry."

But Sunghoon knows you better than anyone else. He pays attention to every single detail of you, so he was more than aware that something unsettling has been going on with you lately. He didn't want to be too pushy though, but after all of your friends said they weren't able to reach you since the morning, he had to come and check up on you.

"I can tell that you're crying, my love." His soft words make you go still for a moment. You were so sure you did well with covering up the tremble in your voice. "Will you open the door for me?"

"N-No," you stutter out, suddenly feeling hot from being this close to getting exposed.

"Why?" He asks, voice as calm as ever, even though his heart nearly leaps out of his chest from worry.

You hesitate for a second, realizing that lying to him is pointless right now. You inhale shakily. "Because I don't want you to see me like that."

"Please, open the door, baby," he asks and it's the gentleness of his voice that makes you cave and turn the lock open. The moment that he steps into the bathroom and sees your tear-stained face, he takes you in his arms tightly. Holding you closely to his chest, he wishes he could just take away all of your pain and worries and keep you like this for as long until you feel secure again.

"I'm sorry," you mumble out a watery apology, pressing your face to his chest and soaking his t-shirt nearly instantly. "I just don't know how to handle all of my emotions sometimes."

"Don't apologize for that," he quietly reprimands you, leaning his chin on the top of your head. "Wanna talk about it?"

You shake your head and Sunghoon understands. He hums in acknowledgement and the faint vibrations running through his chest bring solace to your aching heart.

You stand in silence for couple more minutes, relishing in the feeling of his hand stroking your hair and the gentle serie of kisses that he's laid upon your head. Before you even know, your sobs reduce to quiet sniffles and the hysteria that's overwhelmed your mind slowly fades away.

"You should've called me," he whispers after a moment. "I would've tried to help you. It breaks my heart to think that you've been dealing with all of this by yourself."

"I just didn't wanna burden you," you stumble out, pulling away to look at him. "You have enough problems on your mind already."

With a soft smile, Sunghoon lifts his hand up to wipe the tears away from your cheeks, peppering your face with kisses next. Your arms wrap around his middle and you just let him shower you with the affection you've been in a need for throughout the entire day.

After pressing the last kiss right to your tear-swollen lips, he pulls away so that your noses touch, rubbing them together to finally see the smile he adores so much.

"I want you to tell me every single thing that's bugging that precious mind of yours, alright? I'm your boyfriend after all." Noticing the uncertainty glimmering in your eyes, he kisses you again. "I really want to help you, baby. Let me take care of you. Please?"

Seeing the desperate pleading silently writing itself on his face, you finally nod your head and send him a sheepish smile. You push your face back into his chest again, not able to bare the raw emotion in his eyes as he looks down at you.

"Thank you, Hoon," you mumble, tightening your arms around him. "I love you so much."

"I love you even more," he says, finally feeling content for the first time this day. "Wanna go to bed now? It's getting kinda late. We can even watch this stupid cartoon you love so much."

"Haikyuu is not stupid and it's not a cartoon," you glare at him playfully. "Stop pretending like you're not watching every single episode more invested than me."

He huffs out a laugh, flicking your nose gently. "Alright, got me there."

permanent taglist: @bambisgirl @arizejkt19 @luvmura @milisabunny @cathy-1997 @venividibitchin @ramenoil @jenjnk

[fuctacles]

Eddie Munson Collectible

For @subeddieweek Day 4 | T | 1115 | transfem Steve, playing dress up, fluff, established relationship, Eddie in a dress :3 and I've included a lil doodle | Ao3 Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Ao3

"What are you doing?"

Eddie jumps a foot in the air at the sudden intrusion, grasping at his chest. 

"Fuck!" he yelps, eyes bulging at his girlfriend, who suddenly appeared at the doorframe, leaning casually against it and observing his antics. 

It's not like she was being stealthy, and his music wasn't turned up that loud either. He was just too preoccupied with whatever he was doing to notice her coming back home.

And that thing seemed to be trying on Stephanie's dresses. 

"You scared the shit out of me. Do you want me to die?" he wheezes. But she doesn't care about his heart right now. What she cares about are his hairy shins sticking out from her yellow summer dress. 

"Were you playing dress up without me?" she asks, raising her eyebrow. 

Eddie gulps, grabbing the flowy fabric absentmindedly. 

"Uh, yeah? I was kinda curious how it feels."

Stevie is silent for too long, but when he looks up, all he sees is her glowing smile. 

"Well, why didn't you say so?" she asks cheerfully.

She steps into their bedroom and opens their wardrobe wider. She hums and ahhs until she finds the thing she's looking for, pulling it from between the flowing fabric. 

"I got this one because it reminded me of you. It's not really my style, you know."

It wasn't and he thought as well when he first saw it but you don't question your girlfriend's wardrobe choices, especially when it took her so long to get comfortable in dresses. Stephanie preferred flowy, girly clothes with puffs, lace, and gathered fabric. This was a black, off-shoulder bodycon with flowy, Stevie Nicks-type sleeves.

"Well?"

Eddie looks in the mirror, where he's drowning in the sheer volume of Stevie's puffy sleeves, and the sunny yellow fabric clashes with his pale skin. He nods.

"Okay, let's do it."

Stevie's grin is so wide he's afraid for the well-being of her cheeks. (He'd kiss them better if needed, of course.) She hovers over him, impatiently helping him unzip the dress he has on so he can change. 

"You weren't so excited the first time we had sex," he murmurs under his breath, muffled by the fabric he's pulling over his head. She hears it though, and slaps his arm, almost making him lose his balance due to his immobilized state. 

"I've had sex before, but never saw the man I love wear something so pretty for me."

Eddie blushes instantly, reaching for the dress held up for him. They've said the L-word before but it overwhelmed him a little bit every time. He felt like he'd never be over the fact he was dating such a beautiful girl. So bitchy, sporty, and yet interested in his hobbies. 

He was the happiest man alive, so what was letting her play with him like he was a doll? She didn't have it in her childhood so Eddie would be happy to provide now.

The fabric has a lot of give, so he doesn't feel trapped in it despite what his reflection suggests. More like snugly wrapped. It's short, pulling up above his knees, and the line of his collarbones looks extra bony when displayed like that. His shoulders aren't very wide, but the contrast of his pale skin to the skin-tight blackness makes them pop out more. And the sleeves...

He can't contain his glee and starts flapping them before Stevie has the chance to fully zip him up. They are long and flowy and fun.

"It's like my ren faire shirt," he says, spreading his arms to see the full extent of the fabric. "Heh, I feel like a bat." He grins up at his girlfriend and finds her eyes sparkling with joy too.

"You look like a princess," she offers instead. He seems appalled at the comparison.

"But you're the princess," he points out with a pout. His arms never stop moving the fabric. 

"Nuh-uh." Stevie shakes her head. "I'm a queen."

Eddie huffs, putting his hands on his hips dramatically. 

"You know these are two different titles. It's not hierarchised."

Stevie rolls her eyes. 

"What's the rule, baby?" she asks, eyebrows raised. Eddie sighs.

"No nerd talk in the bedroom unless we're role-playing," he recites.

"Correct. Now be a good doll and spin," she instructs, making a circling motion with her finger. Eddie does so, the sleeves swooshing around him. "You look so hot," she says with a groan. 

Eddie stops to eye himself in the mirror. He should probably take off the socks he was still wearing, they weren't a fitting addition to a dress. 

"I should lose the socks," he says out loud, looking for confirmation. 

"Sit down," Stevie instructs immediately. He takes a couple of steps back to sit on the edge of the bed and she kneels in front of him to pull off his socks for him. She kisses his bony knees while she's there. "You're so pretty," she says, looking up at him. "And all mine to play with."

Eddie's heart thuds harder at the double meaning. He pushes her face away, groaning.

"Stooop!" 

She giggles, falling back to lean on her hands. Her loving gaze is still on him.

"Can I? Please."

Eddie huffs.

"Of course you can." What a silly question.

He'd never deny her anything. So he lets her sit behind him and brush his hair back, style it up to uncover his neck, and frame his face. Lets her swap his hoop earrings for a pair of dangling roses and put lipgloss on his lips. All the time he's facing the mirror, watching himself being pampered with care and love.

Once she's done, Stevie wraps her arms around him and leans over his shoulder to face the mirror as well.

"My pretty metal doll. Collector's edition."

Eddie snorts. 

"Don't laugh. This shit is priceless," she scolds.

"I should have never told you about collectible figurines," he sighs.

"Too late. Now I'm hooked."

She put her fingers under his chin to guide him into a kiss. It's a soft caress at first, but soon he gives in, leaning into her warm chest to get consumed. He sucks on her tongue like it's the only thing keeping him alive and sighs into her mouth when her hands wander, giving extra attention to his exposed collarbones and thighs. She leaves a trail of goosebumps on the insides of his thighs and he knows the tight dress will hide nothing.

Stevie squeezes his sides before parting, giving his lips one last lick, and finds him in a daze, eyes blown and under her spell. The prettiest doll to play with.

"How do you feel about wearing heels?"

[agentmarcuspike]

"Is there a reason you're naked in my bed?" part 2

cw: dbf!joel miller x f!reader, pre-outbreak, kinda... blackmailing? ig, no sarah here wc: 1.3k a/n: idek what this is, i'm just practicing, and hopefully someone likes it. working on my smut, don't feel quite confident enough with it yet. maybe in the next one...?

part 1 part 3 part 4

it’s been a week since your neighbor, Joel Miller, found you naked in his bed. you’ve been avoiding leaving the house since then, worried he'll decide to report you for breaking and entering. out of sight, out of mind, you hope, as if grown man Miller never developed a sense of object permanence.

admitting to yourself that not only being caught, but being caught fucking someone in your dad's friend's bed, had made you more excited than embarrassed was not gonna happen any time soon. although you had to acknowledge that the picture of Joel with your lacy panties in his big calloused hand, and the memory of his deep voice telling the younger man to get out of his house, had you chasing a high later that night, alone in your own bed, that you hadn't felt in a long time.

"earth to daughter, anyone home...?" your dad's hand waving in front of your face brings you back to the present. he's finishing a bagel, trying to cram a bunch of folders and loose papers into his work bag, which he only half-way manages without crumpling all of them. "you okay?"

he sends you a quick worried glance, and you nod as you swallow your coffee. "yeah, fine!" you give him a half-hearted smile, and he smiles back, grimacing as he takes a sip of his own now cold coffee.

you snicker at his usual urgency, and take another sip of your own, giggling into the mug. a knock on the door, and your dad yells for them to come in. the coffee doesn't make it all the way down your throat, and threatens to come back up when you see Mr. Miller in your kitchen.

"hey there, neighbor!" your dad says with a cheer in his voice, shaking Joel's hand. "to what do we owe the pleasure?"

Joel nods, quickly glancing at you, before looking back at your dad. "nothing good, i'm afraid." he places his hands on his hips, a confidence to his stance despite the news he's bringing. "my washing machine is broken, and i could use an extra pair of hands carrying it out in the garden to make room for the new one."

for a second you rest your gaze on his biceps, his t-shirt clinging to them for dear life, and you imagine how they would strain even more while he grunts and sweats to move the washing machine.

"i'm about to head out, i'm afraid," you hear your dad apologize, quickly moving your eyes to study the crumbs left on your plate before any of them can catch your keen eye. "but i'm sure my dutiful daughter will be more than happy to show off her strength. you've been working out a lot lotely, honey, haven't you?" your head snaps back up, as you look between the men, both looking at you.

you have. you've been doing a lot of pilates and yoga on the lawn, and you've caught your neighbor hungry stare from across the fence.

"please, no..." you mutter to yourself.

"what was that?" your dad asks, looking at you sternly, as if he didn't hear exactly what you said. "if you're gonna be living here rent free, the least you can do is give our neighbor a hand."

something playful, almost provocative in Joel's eyes renders you speechless long enough for him to say "great," and give your dad an appreciative nod.

"great!" your dad repeats, patting Joel's shoulder. "see you later, kid!" he waves at you, and disappears out the door.

you're alone with Joel.

"so..."

not a word has been spoken since Joel turned on his heel in your kitchen, expecting you to follow him, which you did. the silence feels awkward, but you don't want to break it, worried he'll bring up the other night, as you walk behind him through his house, and into his downstairs laundry room.

"grab that side," he says, pointing to the the back of the machine. it's a tight squeeze, but you manage to fit yourself between the wall and the washer, pushing it towards him.

"on three." he counts, and you lift together. it's almost too heavy, but even if you wanted to you couldn't have said anything, as you both grunt and pant your way out to his back garden.

Joel stops, and nods at you to put it down. you do. your arms feel long, and you lean forwards on your knees, catching your breath. Joel takes a second to breathe and wipe his brow before he breaks the silence.

"too early for a drink?" you look at him, still out of breath, and shake your head. not in this situation, you think to yourself.

"sit," he nods towards the sofa on the back porch and disappears back into the house again. you do as you're told.

Joel reappears with two beer bottles, extending his arm for you to grab one. he sits down next to you, a little too close for comfort. you can smell the sweat from the visible perspiration stains in the armpits of his grey shirt. you both take a couple of sips in silence, before you decide to break it.

"i can wash your sheets..." it's the only thing you can think of to make up for your sins, peeling at the label of the bottle as you say it.

to your surprise, he laughs.

you look at him, and he takes a big gulp of his beer.

"nah, that's okay," he snickers. "i kinda like it, to be honest"

Joel licks his lips before he looks at you, again with the mischievous grin of his. he gives you a quick up-and-down, sending butterflies to several parts of your body, and you swallow harshly.

"you--" you start, as he places a hand on your bare thigh, grin fading, but the mischief still very much present. he gives your leg a soft squeeze.

"i mean you can wash them if it clears your conscience... but it would be a disservice. i'd have to ask you to come mess them up again."

Joel's hand is moving up and down your leg, dangerously close to the hem of your pyjamas shorts you hadn't had time to change out of. you take a deep breath, and clutch your thighs a little tighter together around the beer bottle resting between them.

"you won't tell my dad?" you ask, knowing damn well that he wouldn't tolerate you breaking into your neighbor's house to get laid, and you'd have to find another place to stay.

Joel chuckles. "no, i won't tell your dad," he assures you. "as long as you don't bring that bonehead over again." that makes you smile. "s'he really your type? wouldn't have thought you'd be into guys like that." he takes a good sip of his beer, looking out at the neat-tended garden.

"excuse me?" you say accusatory. "what you mean, guys like that? he was really nice!" Joel looks back at you again, brows raised, before looking away again, shaking his head lightly. "whatever you say, hon." then under his breath: "if you can't see it, m'not gonna say it."

you roll your eyes, and let your legs relax a little. while lifting your bottle to your lips again, Joel's fingertips press a little harder into your inner thigh. you let them.

"so are we good, Miller? seeing as i nearly broke my back helping you move that thing?" you nod towards the washing machine, looking very out of place on the otherwise neat lawn. you had always been able to see parts of his backyard from your childhood bedroom window, and you'd seen him mow the lawn shirtless more than once, shamefully thirsting from afar.

"we're good..." his eyes meet yours, the tease in them ever present.

"for now."

[masonmyluv]

Photographer 📸

Pedri Gonzales x reader

One shot

Fluff

"You're staring"

"Am not"

"Take a picture, it'll last longer"

That was kind of ironic coming from your co-worker giving the fact that you were a photographer for FC Barcelona and that was your job: taking pictures of the players. "Actually that's what I'm going to do" you said, snapping some in the mean time of a certain player that always caught your eye: Pedro Gonzales. He looked adorable with that red tint on his cheeks after the game, and his smile when his teammates congratulated him for the 100th game in Barça's t-shirt and the winning goal he scored.

After the game ended and Pedri received his t-shirt, your co-worker, Luigi, was asked to take some pictures in the changing rooms because some of the players were looking indecent. You rolled you eyes, but waited until almost everyone was out so you could sneak in. You hoped Pedri wasn't indecent, but that wouldn't have been a problem. "Y/N? What are you doing here?" He asked confused. "Came to take some pictures with the man of the match" you said. "But Luigi—". "Shush. Pose for me" you said. "Alright" Pedri chuckled. "Perfecto" you whispered. "tú eres perfecto, no yo (you are perfect, not me)" he said. "I mean it, Y/N. You're so good in everything you do and you're so talented" he said when you opened your mouth to object. "Thanks Pedri. I should go, but congrats for the goal" you said. "Gracias". "Can I give you a hug?" You asked. "Sure, but you don't have to ask" he laughed. And just like that, you gave your crush a tight hug that lasted for about 5 seconds, but it will last forever in your memory.

—

"Nice pictures" You slightly jumped at the sound of that voice, a voice that caused butterflies to erupt in your stomach. "Gracias Pedri" you smiled. "Hopefully they'll post them" he said. You didn't realise how close he was until now: he slightly bent his head over your shoulder to take a better look at your laptop, his breath fanning over your neck. "That's PR. I'm just a simple photographer" you sighed. "The best photographer" he corrected. "¿Que esta pasando ahí? (What's happening here?" Pablo asked. "Pedro tratando de conseguir su amor para ser su novia (Pedro trying to get his crush to be his girlfriend)" Ansu answered. You looked a bit confused when Pedri told them to fuck off. "Sorry about that" he chuckled nervously. "It's okay... I need to finish editing these photos anyway" you said, closing your laptop and hurrying down the hall to your office. "Y/N... wait" he yelled, catching up with you. "Do you want to... maybe... watch a movie? Together?" He asked. "Are you asking me out, Pedro Gonzales?" You asked blushing. "It's just my cinema room. I don't really like cinemas" he said. "Then yes. Just text me your address" you said.

—

"Oh wow I..."

"Do I look that bad?" You asked.

"Not at all. It's just weird to not see you in Barça clothes" he said. "Oh wait till you see me at the gala" you laughed. "You're going to be there?" He asked. "Yep. Probably in a dress" you said. "No puedo esperar a verte (I can't wait to see you)" he mumbled. "Sorry?". "Third room on the left" he cleared his throat. "I'll bring snacks for us" he said. "Can I help you?". "No, it's fine. Feel like home" he smiled.

That was kinda ironic given the fact that his house was 10 times your apartment, but you didn't care about that now. You were too close to Pedri to even think about something straight. You sometimes looked at him, he was so fucking handsome, his brown eyes and his plump lips. "Hey... you okay?" He asked, his thumb brushing your cheek. "You drifted off" he clarified when you looked at him confused. "I think I'm tired. I should go" you said. "It's late. Why don't you stay here? I have a lot of spare bedrooms. And I can drive you to work in the morning" he suggested. "I don't know...". "Please?" He gave you the puppy eyes. "Okay... but tomorrow we have to stop at mine to get my camera" you said. "Of course" he said.

—

"You spent the night at Pedro's???" Luigi yelled shocked. "Shhhh!!! Yeah I did. We were having a movie night and it got too late to go home. So I stayed" you explained. "Did you two you know" he wiggled his eyebrows. "No, Luigi, we didn't. I stayed in one of his guest rooms and we met in the morning. Then he bought me a coffee on the way here" you said. "Awww". "And he asked the barista to draw some hearts on my cup" you blushed. "Oh my god! He likes you too!" He said. "Too? Who said I like him?" You asked. "It's clear you do. And you're gonna convinced yourself at the gala next month" he said.

—

"Oh wow..."

"cloae su boca. Usted podría babear (close your mouth, you might drool)" Gavi said just in time because you were making your way to the two boys in your red dress. "Hey guys! Ready for the big night?" You asked. "Claro" Gavi flexed his biceps. "And you, Pedri?". "I'm...good... yeah bueno" he shuttered. "Well, I'll see you around" you said. "dile que se ve hermosa (tell her she's beautiful)" Gavi whispered to his friend. "Y/n, you look beautiful" Pedri said. "Thanks. You look good too. Both of you" you said blushing. "ella se sonrojó (she blushed)" Gavi said. "estás viendo estrellas (you're seeing starts, Pablo)" Pedri argued with him. "Shush you two" Ferran said as the ceremony was about to start.

"And the prize for the best photo of the season... first let's see it"

"And the best photographer, all go to Y/N Y/l/n". Everyone started applauding as Luigi helped you on the stage. You claimed your award and luckily didn't have to say anything because you surely couldn't do it.

After the gala ended, it was a little after party, so you all went there. "May I have a dance with the winner?" Pedri asked, snapping you out of your daydreaming. "Sure. There you go" Luigi shoved you into him. "Congrats. I told you you're the best photographer" he smiled down at you. "I wouldn't have won it if it weren't for the person I photographed in the first place" you said. "Now, don't tell me you won because of me" he laughed. "No, but your charm helped" you shrugged. "You think I'm charming?" He smirked. "Umm... yeah" you blushed looking down at your shoes. "Y/n... I really like you" he whispered. "More than a friend" he added quickly. "Pedro—". "No, it's okay, it's your perfect night and I ruined it" he panicked. "Pedro, just listen to me" you chuckled, cupping his face into your hands. "I really like you too...and you could make this the best night of my life if you would just kiss me". He blinked twice before he registered what you just said. So, with your permission, he pressed his lips softly to yours, wrapping his arms around you in the meantime. "Te quiero, Y/n" he whispered.

"Finally!"

"Took you long enough" His teammates patted his back. "Now I won't have to listen to him saying how beautiful you look every day" Pablo whispered to you. "We were dancing here" Pedri said. "Mhm. More like making out" Pablo said. You blushed, hiding your face into Pedri's chest as he swung your bodies to the music.

Hope you like it ❤️

Feedback is always appreciated ☺️

[inner-visionz]

Magic City (2d x autistic transboy reader)

Morning after part 2

Start from the beginning

"Anyway, not that I don't enjoy your company but don't you have somewhere to be?" 

My eyes go wide. "Uhh yeah I should go home". I begin to stand up by y/n stops me.

"Stuart your shoes are untied" 

"Fuck uhh"

"..Do you need someone to tie them?" 

"How did you know?"

She sits me back down then gets on one knee and starts to tie them. "You told me last night Murdoc would tie them. You forget how to sometimes, which is understandable you got hit with a car".  

I'm baffled and don't know what to say besides stuttering, "I-I uh told you th-that much?". Not so charming on my part. I mentally slap myself for saying it.  God,Murdoc is right, I am an idiot.

"You told me a lot mate, but dont beat yourself up about it. I still think you're cool", she says tying the last knot and standing up in front of me.

"Thank you", I look down at my shoes she just tied and start to tear up. It made me think of Murdoc and how I miss him. The more I think about it the more tears run down my cheeks. No no, stop it you don't miss him. I feel her pull my head to her stomach and run her fingers through my hair.

"You're okay, please don't cry", she says in a gentle hushed voice. I close my eyes and wrap my arms around her. She continues to run her fingers through my hair to soothe me. "Feel better? or I mean Feel Good? heh, im sorry bad timing". 

I can't help but chuckle at her terrible joke as I let go of her. "It's fine luv. Yes I do feel good. I feel good Inc. actually. You know that's the name of the song not just feel good"

"Are you calling me a fake fan?" 

I look at her confused. "You can't be a fan, you're a human not something with blades that cools people down. Even so you can't be fake"

She laughs a little. "No, I mean a fan as in a fan of the band". 

My face flusters up realizing my stupid mistake. "Oh...yeah, sorry"

She laughs. "Its okay, its kinda cute. In a weird sort of way, I mean the circumstances was awful and im sure its not fun for you..eh I'll stop talking". 

"Im glad you like to ramble too," I smile up at her as reassurance. 

She nods. "Umm I'll see you later then?". 

"Oh right", I stand up from my chair then wave her goodbye before heading out the door. 

Two weeks later

9:00 pm finally rolls around. I have on a plain grey t-shirt with faded jeans and black boots. If (y/n) can see me while I'm ugly crying and drunk then this should be fine. I grab my phone before walking to the front room.

Noodle is sitting on the couch and looks up from her book. "Going back Toochi?"

I stop at the door to look at her. "Uh, yeah I am".

"You've been going back every night and Ace said you met someone. When are we going to meet her?" she teases with a smile. 

"Oh uhhh I don't know see ya later Noodle!" I say before rushing out the door. It's not like we're dating or anything. I don't even like her I mean yeah she's really nice, comforting, a good listener, really pretty, beautiful, soft....

Okay maybe I like her a little bit.

I brush the thought off as I walk into Magic City. I'm greeted with bopping music with pink and red lights blinding me. 

I walk up to the manager and ask for (y/n).

" Yes, follow me she'll be with you in just a moment," she tells me as she leads me to a booth. As we're walking I spot (y/n) with a client. It is painfully obvious that she's flirting. I know it's her job so I'm not bent out of shape about it. Still it stings. 

"Here you go, just sit tight" she said before leaving me alone in the red velvet booth. 

I sit down and wait for (y/n).

About 10 minutes later she comes in and upon seeing my face she brightens up. She sits on my lap like she did before. 

"You will not believe the night I've had". She starts. "People kept touching me even though you're not supposed to. It wasn't anything too bad but it gets annoying not to mention people asking about dates and ugghhh," she groans.

"Sounds like you've had a rough day luv," I reply.

"Tell me about it, so how was your day?"

"Eh we 'ave our tour dates scheduled we're going around the world"

"Ohh sounds fun, oh I guess you'll be gone a while huh?" she said her voice kinda sad at the last part. 

"Well we won't be leaving for a while and I have a question"

"oh? What's that?'

"Well just to add to your ever growing list of men that have asked you out, I'd like to add my name to the list and ask if you wanted to go on a date with me?"

[blazingtheway]

Everyone’s Broken and I’ve Got This Missing Piece

"I love the way your hair falls in the summer. I'll treat you like your father treats your mother, and I'm kinda scared of your older brother."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Coughs.

“Stalker much?” Smirks

•- Embry Call -•

“Are you shocked about the stalking or about how long it’s taken me to find you here?”

Grins. Knowing the answer.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Raising my eyebrow. “You know which is the most shocking? Just went I was about to call out a Friday man. Here you are.”

Smirks and winks.

•- Embry Call -•

Looks around.

“Well then I’m just in time… no one else is here! I must have beaten the Friday guy. And just so you know the Saturday and Sunday guys asked me to fill in for them.” Smirks.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Laughs.

“Oh. Really… Did they now… I call it poor service on their end. I’ll need to have some words. Pawning off their duty isn’t good form.”

•- Embry Call -•

“It’s not on you… they just feel like I provide a better quality…” Eyes her. “Service. And even though they’ll be sad not to see you… they know you only deserve the best.”

Waving my hands up and down to display the goods. “So, they sent me.” Grins.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Oh, I know it’s not me. Have you seen this face? I’m a gift from the Spirits. So, it’s always them and not me.”

Smirking.

“Hmm…. I mean….” Turning my finger in a circle telling him to turn around for me. “I could have fun with you I guess.”

•- Embry Call -•

Of course, I did a little turn for her. Maybe flexed a little under the tight t-shirt.

“You guess?” quirking a brow. “I better get to work easing those doubts.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Pressing my lips together to stop me from smirking or even laughing. Because I’d expect pushback from this. But he was doing it and flexing too!

“Hmm…. Just so you know… you may need to put in the overtime too. Maybe into Monday.”

•- Embry Call -•

“I’ve never been afraid of a little over time?”

Running my gaze up and down. “Especially when the task is so pleasing to the eye.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Smirking, I pressed my lips together again. “Are you telling me, or asking me? Because it sounds like you’re not sure.”

Tilting my head to let my hair fall down freely. Knowing he enjoyed the sight of it.

•- Embry Call -•

“All I’m questioning is why you still have weekday guys at all…. You know I'm just...” I smirked and eyed her.

“Better suited for the task… these humans. They just don't have the stamina… or the heat.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Pressing my lips together, so I didn’t laugh. My eyebrow curved up in a perfect arch.

“Hmm… You make an interesting point, Dimples.”

He knew it was just teasing. There was no one else. Only him. But I wasn’t going to say it.

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned wide.

“Okay then, glad we settled that. I'll inform the rest that their services are no longer required. Don't worry I already have their names, phone numbers and addresses. And a couple of grainy photos some weirdo took from the bushes.”

I laughed… if she wanted to play I could play. She'd been all mine for a while now. And that was a two-way street.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Blinking at the camera joke, and the rest now that I thought about it.

“Spirits, they knew what they were doing when they made you, Embry Call.”

Shaking my head, but the sound of his laughter was contagious making me laugh too.

“You’re such a Wisearse, and I know… I know… you are aware and proud of the fact. But it seems like a good time to point it out again.”

•- Embry Call -•

I couldn't help but laugh again. “I may be a Wisearse, Trouble.”

I bit my lip with intention, quirking a brow.

“But I'm your Wisearse… and that sounds like a pretty good deal to me.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“My Wisearse?” My lips curled up into a smirk which turned into a smile. Something came alive in my stomach before I controlled it and pushed it down.

“I think we should look at tattooing that line on you somewhere.” Hundred percent joking. Because that wasn’t going to happen.

•- Embry Call -•

Both brows lifted now, stands of hair falling into my face.

“Hmm… interesting thought…” I reached for the hem of my shirt. “Should we choose a location now… or later?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Rushing forward my hand stopping his from moving any further. I darted my gaze around the place.

“No… no we don’t need to pick a location for it right here and now.” Now when I glanced at him I noticed how his hair had grown. “I was thinking of your forehead anyway.” Winking.

•- Embry Call -•

I smirked. Twisting my hand to grip her wrist and pull her in. “Really? You wanna mess with this face?” I chuckled and peppered hers with light playful kisses.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Growing up, with a snap of my teeth, I caught his lips and kissed him once. “I don’t like sharing. It’s becoming clearer. So, why not?” Smiling that smile only he was allowed to see.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled wide at that sexy snap. “Sharing… not an option. I do not consent to being shared… and you know: Consent is sexy!” I released the hem of my shirt and wrapped that arm around her instead.

“Your eyes only.” I chuckled and kissed each eyelid. “With or without a tattooed forehead.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Laughter escaped my lips, with a badarse roll of my eyes too just before he kissed them closed. Because I knew that he knew that I stole his line.

“So, what I am hearing…” my arms around his waist, hooking my fingers into his belt. “The tattoo is still on the table.”

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed out loud. “Sure… but only I get to put you on a table and have free reign.”

I smirked. “But there be no needles involved.”

Waggling my brows.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Pulling back to look at him with a raised eyebrow, until his meaning sunk in.

“Do you take me for a fool? It’s an uneven deal. You would get so much more out of it than me.”

•- Embry Call -•

I arched my brow. “Okay… I'll sweeten the deal… after I'm done I’ll make you scream my name on that table…” I smirked.

“You can pick any song you want, and I will play it for you. If I don't know it... I'll learn it. For you.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My warrior was shouting to ‘Take the deal! Take the deal!’ But I was reminded still. Even if internally, I felt every muscle in my body tighten and hum.

“Interesting… Let me consider it…”

She fell flat inside, rolling onto her side and snapped at me for being no fun.

•- Embry Call -•

I leaned in close to her ear. My fingers twisted into my shirt at her sides. “On the piano,” I whispered.

Utterly confident this would seal the deal.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I worked my jaw. Closing my eyes when I felt the warmth of his breath on my skin and his whisper in my ear. He knew me. By the spirits, he knew me well enough to know this would work.

“D… E… A… L!”

‘Finally!’ She growled making me smirk.

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned. Far too pleased with myself.

“What’s first? The tattoo parlour, the table or the music?”

I pressed a kiss below her ear then stepped back and held out my hand for her to take and lead me towards her choice.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Even with a strong shiver working its way from the spot of the kiss, it took no time to say.

“Music, music always comes first.” Giving him a look and telling him he should have known.

Lacing my fingers into his. With a small nod towards where his Nana’s guitar sat.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at how she took my hand without even thinking about it. I squeezed her fingers to let her know I'd noticed and walked with her.

"Do you have a song in mind, I did say any song of your choice." I grinned, only slipping my hand from hers to open the case and admire the beautiful instrument.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Letting his hand go, I walked away backwards thinking. “No. I want you to play what you feel right now.” When he played the first cord. It always gave me a sense of peace knowing the song without knowing he was going to play it.

“I’m grabbing some beers.” Walking off barefooted.

•- Embry Call -•

It was her usual choice… but it was hers to make. And she made the one that gave me the most joy, to play what I felt. So, I played before she’d stepped back into the room. A song I knew would give her just as much joy.

And I sang. Just to convince her not to tattoo my forehead… not because I was a singer! Nope. Not at all.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My feet stopped on their own accord. The first cord did it. The words danced in my mind and over my lips. The lips which curled up into a smile, only for him and only without our bubble.

Continuing towards the kitchen, my bare feet stopped before the fridge, taking out two cold ones.

Humming a little. But mostly I listened.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱

𝗕𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲

𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗱….

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled. She was hiding in the kitchen I had the glass bottle click. But I just kept singing, she’d be back.

𝕀 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕪 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕙𝕒𝕚𝕣 𝕗𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕣

𝕀'𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕗𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕤 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕞𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣

𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕀'𝕞 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕒 𝕤𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕣𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣

𝕆𝕙 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕙

The thing about lyrics they always be made to fit to any situation.

𝕐𝕠𝕦'𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀'𝕞 𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘

𝕐𝕠𝕦'𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀'𝕞 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘

𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕀'𝕝𝕝 𝕓𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥'𝕤 𝕜𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘

𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕘𝕠 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Listening intently, I twisted the two bottle caps off. Throwing them into recycling. But then I stopped. My eyebrows pulled into a frown because he sang the song wrong.

“And I'm kinda scared of your 𝕆𝕝𝕕𝕖𝕣 brother...” and then I laughed softly. He’d made the song work for us? Shaking my head as I returned to the living room. His voice and the sound of the guitar took over every morsel of air in the room. And I wondered, was he scared of #TheKid? My younger brother adored this man.

Setting his bottle down on the coffee table. I clinked out bottles, my eyes not drifting always as the words began to take a sharp turn and form before me.

“𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙙

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧

𝙒𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄'𝙢 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙨𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪…”

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her correction from the other room. So much so that I missed a note... but never a chord. But then she was sitting there, beer in hand and singing too. I sang a line or two with her and then stopped to admire her voice.

But there was one line I had to sing with her.

"...𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕔𝕝𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤 𝕤𝕠 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕠𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦

𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕪 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕞𝕪 𝕙𝕒𝕚𝕣 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖'𝕤 𝕟𝕠 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣

𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕀'𝕞 𝕟𝕠 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕓𝕣𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣

ℍ𝕖 𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕕, "𝕨𝕖'𝕣𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕠𝕝, 𝕞𝕒𝕟, 𝕀 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕣"

𝕆𝕙 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕙

𝕀'𝕝𝕝 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕚𝕟 𝕝𝕠𝕒𝕕𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕓𝕝𝕖

𝔾𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕠𝕦𝕓𝕝𝕖

𝕎𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕕𝕣𝕦𝕟𝕜 𝕒𝕟𝕕

𝕆𝕦𝕣 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕦𝕕𝕕𝕝𝕖𝕕

ℕ𝕠 𝕔𝕚𝕘𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖 𝕤𝕞𝕠𝕜𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕓𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕓𝕦𝕓𝕓𝕝𝕖

𝕆𝕙 𝕟𝕠"

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My lips curl up into the smile only Embry Call had witnessed as I let him take the song by himself.

Heat crawled itself up the side of my neck as the meaning of how he was singing to me. Then I took the last of it.

𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙜𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙

•- Embry Call -•

I played out the rest of the song, the only thing keeping me from biting my lip as I watched that hint of blush spread up from her collar were the lyrics coming out of my mouth as easily as breathing. I knew this song like the back of my hand.

When the last note faded into the breeze coming through her window I smiled at her.

“I guess that means you approve of my choice then?” I said, still balancing the guitar on my knee.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

He always found a way to turn any song into his own, and this was what I needed to see. To feel. To understand. By asking Embry to pick the song, he gave me insight into where his mind went, and how his soul felt, and he was never disappointed.

Raising my eyebrow at him, I sat back on my couch, curling my long legs under myself. “When have you known me not to approve? You can never be wrong when you are asked to play what is in your heart.”

My gaze moved over the way he sat there with his Nana’s guitar on his lap.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her. She knew that music was a way for me to say things that I had no words for... it was a strange sensation for me. I was used to saying what I felt and thought... and now, there never seemed to be any words strong enough for those feelings.

So... Music.

"Oh, I get it now!" I   smirked at her. "Letting me pick the sang is your version of me getting behind those walls." I pointed two fingers to my eyes and then hers. "I see you, Trouble. I see you."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Took you long enough. A little soft of the uptake as always, Call.”

I just wink with a smirk on my lips. He had to have known this, it wasn’t a secret I hid from him. But really, some part of it was more about me than Embry. Asking for a song felt too intrusive. Giving him the choice felt right.

 Bringing the cold bottle of beer to my lips, I took a pull before setting it down. Holding it would make the beer warmer far too fast for the evening vibe I was on.

“I’ve stopped hiding within the bubble, Dimples. So… see all you want.”

So, yes. It had to be true…

“Evolution…” This time a pull from the bottle allowed the cold bitter liquor to flow down my throat and into my stomach.

“We would need to have something to do for our journey this far. Shining lights in dark places has become a huge problem you know.” Teasing him of course.

•- Embry Call -•

“And she says she doesn’t have a way with words.” I smiled at her. That one only she ever saw. “But I will disagree with one thing… I teased, knowing she meant it only as an observation. “It’s not a problem. Shining a light on all those dark places…” I grew a little more thoughtful.

“Bringing those secrets out of the dark… some are difficult, some are even joyful things we put away for whatever reason. But they are all better shared. Maybe not with the world, but with someone you trust because they’ve shared their shadowed place too.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Setting the beer down on the side table, I didn’t want it going warm in my hands. My mind became thoughtful now. His statements always had a way of making me think about what he wanted me to see from another view.

His smile, of course, gave the man sitting across from me such a brightness I couldn’t imagine his darkness at that moment. Even though I witnessed it first-hand.

“So, what you are telling me is…. We need a mix of both. For us, we see the difference between what should be left in the dark, and what we should leave out there too?”

•- Embry Call -•

Now she was asking the tough questions.… I took a long drink from the bottle. “Yeah, I guess… but it needs to be the right person too.” I paused sitting forward on the arm of the chair. “I mean… look at the secret I shared with you. If I'd shared that with someone else it could have been a totally different situation. What I did, what I made Jake do to hide it. Someone else would have reacted badly and I don't know where I would be right now if you'd reacted differently.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Eyebrows pulled together in a thoughtful expression, trying to understand the point he was making. And I wasn’t surprised by the fact that I did. I knew better than most how your life can change by someone else’s perspective of your life and the direction you choose to take.

“Okay… I get it. It’s not about the honesty or the facts you share. It’s about knowing who the right person is. Good or bad, it’s about trusting your instincts and understanding what they say could change your life?” It came as a question, but I meant it as a statement.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her. “That… and you know… timing,” I remembered Seattle. Forcing myself not to wince when that knife-like memory of the disgusting excuse of a human connected a blow to her ribs.

“Like you showing up at my mom’s house… or me showing up… well, you know.” it was the way she owned her that made me realise it was time to start owning mine and sure… only she knew… other than #Jake and then I knew #Quil had some idea, but he wouldn’t push. He would just be there.

“Trust, instinct… we pretend we hone these skills of time and I'm sure life experience plays a part, but really all of. These things…it's all actions and reactions.

And you never get a second chance at a first reaction.”

I remembered storming into her living room and yelling, I had a choice rage, shame or humility that day. Only one was right. And I chose wrong.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Dragging another pull from my beer, because the inside by him was loud and clear. The spirits had thought it was funny (not really, but it felt that way.), To show the two of us what our eyes had missed.

We both crossed paths in a way that hadn’t happened by accident. I didn’t believe in coincidences at all. There is always a reason for it all.

When he made the choice to open up to me, the spirits showed him what I’d been doing alone. Showed us both how in some ways our lives had been on the same parallel existence.

Seeing him that night, his scent hidden in the crown who came to see the underground fight, but my warrior and I found him still. Saw his face, his eyes. The shock of me being in the ring….

Letting out a “Hmm…” I nod my head. I got it. I understood. “Sometimes, you need to give people a second chance. Let them go through their emotions before the brain cells kick in.”

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her; Leah was all about second chances. And third. If she knew your motives were pure…. There was no mistake she couldn't forgive. Unpure… you might get one more try. Both would earn you an arse-kicking and a lesson. I chuckled at the thought.

“Second chances are a must… but that’s something that you give to others… when you react wrong to something; flying off the handle or spiral, we do that to ourselves as much as the person on the receiving end. Sure, you can ask for a second chance, but you can't take it back. Disappointing someone else can be fixed if you put in the work. Disappointing yourself… it's a lot harder.”

I smiled at her though. “But self-forgiveness… it's possible. Someone taught me that recently.” Even if she still refused to grant it to herself. But this… it was something I could live for her to see, to recognise its possibilities. “It's fucking hard… but it's possible.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My eyes shot up to his, and next time his words hit a target I hadn’t thought possible.

By the spirits, I swear my heart stopped, and I clenched my jaw. He wasn’t wrong. In the Name of the Spirits! Embry Call wasn’t wrong! And here, now, like this, he was making me look into a mirror. (It’s how I felt at least.)

Clenching my jaw again, my fingers tapped on the side of the bottle in my hand. The beads of condensation trickled down the sides to fall over my fingers.

What could I say? I wouldn’t lie, I wouldn’t hide. It was the deal to make it work, to keep our bubble safe. “It’s…. Harder….” It was, forgiving others was easy. But yourself? No… I couldn’t do it so easily.

“Maybe….” My throat felt dry because I couldn’t even face myself to say maybe someday forgiveness would come. Because I didn’t know if it would.

•- Embry Call -•

I could see the internal struggle; she had her own process. It was something Leah could move through in her own time. “It is, and it's personal...

I rested my hand on hers and laced our fingers. “Harder… but not impossible.” I offered her a smile. “And... there is no time limit,” I said, knowing what she was thinking. But Leah’s journey was always going to be hers, on her terms. Exactly like it should be.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Seeing how our hands came together was always telling. It told the story of the journey we were on, the lessons we had learnt, the faith I had in him. To allow him so close, that he didn’t think twice when telling me I had been missing something valuable.

“Hmm…” nodding my head slowly, biting the inside of my cheeks.

I let my thumb roam over the back of his hands. And then turning them upside down, I felt those telling calluses. They told me of a story too. Of his road to being threading, with the guidance of those who believed in him.

•- Embry Call -•

Staying quiet and letting her process her thoughts, not asking her what she was thinking or trying to talk through it was difficult for me. I spent a lot of time supporting the pups and they were talkers. That was because I had pushed them to talk about things... so they didn't end up how I did.

Surrounded by people I cared about and who cared about me... but still felt isolated enough that I walked the dark path I walked.

But for Leah... I (almost) always managed to let her have her moments. I smiled when she turned my hand over tracing the callouses on my skin. "Are you starting to wish that you learned to play before shifting?" I grinned. Because I had certainly noticed no matter how much she practised her fingertips were always soft against my skin.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My fingers didn’t stop. “Hmm…” asking his question. “Yes and no.” Gathering my thoughts as I sat beside him. “I’m not sure I was ready for it back then. But if I had… I would find myself lost in that world more than this.”

Everything happened for a reason. “The spirits knew I had to work hard, or they waited to show me this path and choice.”

I still didn’t look up into his eyes. “Even if I really found myself at peace whenever your mom played. And I caught myself stopping to listen.”

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled, because more and more lately it was becoming clear that life was all about timing. “Yeah… it's all in the timing…” I smiled. “Plus, if you learned before… then it wouldn’t be me who got to teach you. And after learning so much from you over the years… I finally get to give a little back.”

Okay, sure I gave her a lot more than music lessons… but this was something else… something that I could have given her without the intense bond we formed along the path. “You don’t need to play music to truly love it. It speaks to everyone… whether they play an instrument or not.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“You give plenty back, Embry.” Now my brown eyes moved to find him and did right away. “Even if I don’t give you credit for it.” My mind listed the number of times he’d stepped up and picked up where no one else could or would.

“I know. Music… it speaks a language you have to feel here.” One hand moved to my chest, tapping out the rhythm playing behind my chest cage.

“Not everyone unfortunately understands it, but those who do… they are most certainly aware of it everywhere.”

I found myself shaking my head. “When did we become so philosophical?”

•- Embry Call -•

“I know…” I gave her a smile I hoped made it clear that I truly did. She always found ways to make me feel appreciated…. Valued. No matter what she did or didn't say. “But those lessons… they're something outside of our bubble…” Sure we weren't really talking about it to anyone else. “Something apart from our other... Explorations.” I fished around for the word.

“Something we could do no matter what path we'd chosen… they would always fit. I guess it's like the one thread… that fits into every possible version of our story.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hmm…” I hadn’t thought of it like this. Yes, anything thing he brought to this invisible table of ours. Helping me to see the universe with fresh eyes.

“I like that, thinking that no matter what. You’d find your way.” Nodding my head once. As I asked my warrior and she agreed too.

“All in the of Evolution, Embry Call… all in the name of evolution.”

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her. “I don’t think either of us can deny our paths were laid to bring us together… we had a lot of turns to choose from. But I think we chose the best one.”

I thought about all the ways it could have gone. It made me smile. “Grandmother had big plans and I think we say with certainty that they all ended up with us in each other's life in a big way… she just gave us the option of what that was going to look like.”

I rested my hand over hers and felt her tapping out that beat was her heartbeat… her soundtrack. “What it was going to sound like.” I grinned, recalling with perfect clarity the sounds I could coax for her.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Letting Embry’s hand rest on mine I glanced to the window and then back to him. I knew it was true. There were no doubts in my head at all. But still. It was moments like now I had to say, “Still Real.”

Smirking a little I turned my attention back to him fully. “She’s a crafty one. She likes to keep everyone guessing, but her kindness and openness also show everyone where she is heading. If they want to look.”

The smile playing on my lips was one he brought to life. And one I only shared with him.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled, those words… they meant everything. Reminding us, that we were here, we chose this… we took every twist and turn together. We were still fascinated by all of this, even now with all of your little routines… everything still felt new and thrilling.

“Still real, Trouble.” I whispered with a smile. “Always real.”

I listened to what she said about Grandmother… “You when I first started to hear them reaching out to me I never thought it would be Grandmother… but at the same time, I wasn’t at all shocked. Does that make any sense?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My eyes darted up to find his, and they did. Right away. The warmth which always found a way to show my thoughts crawled up the side of my neck because even today the reaction to him reminded me of the same as the first night Embry kissed me.

Shaking my head out of the past I spoke softly.  “We don’t choose them; they are the ones who know we need them, and they come.”

I knew this feeling of his so well. “And I get it. I didn’t expect #TheGreatWolf to show up to smack me upside the head.”

Motioning for him to continue his thoughts.

•- Embry Call -•

“We definitely don’t… I mean look at my history and for whatever reason the protector of female spirits has a plan for me?” It still baffled me. “It doesn’t shock me that he had a path for you… it was always clear there was a big plan for you… even if I was too dumb to see that at first.” I ran my hand through my hair and settled next to her, settling my arm over her shoulder and shifting closer until we were fitted perfectly side by side.

“Besides… no one else could bring us down this path… the plans he has for you are going bring the packs back together, bring us into the world we live in now, not our great-grandparents' generation. Protecting people will always be what we do but… how we do it… that’s evolved… especially in the last decade.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Shifting forward, I pulled my hair out of the way as his arm came around to rest on my shoulders. And here lay a testament to how we had grown. His arm was around me, and it was still attached to him. Evolution!

“I have a theory about you and her.” Pointing out the windows, even if she was hidden behind the clouds. We knew she was there and watching.

“Do you think it’s because of your mom?” Resting into his side until we were comfortable. “I mean, we all know Grandmother protects the female souls. She guides them and shows them the way. But with you… and Ms C… I just….” What was I trying to say? “The sacrifice and strength of your mom, meant she ensured your protection no matter where you went?”

I went silent as his assessment of my relationship with my spirit guide, and the way things were evolving for all of us. But pushed it to the side. There was so much to unravel.

•- Embry Call -•

I thought about what she said… remembering that night I saw Her.  “It's definitely possible…  but I don’t think it's just her. When I first saw her, she looked like my Nana… but she changed. She was Mom. #Sue… #SarahBlack, you… the twins, my old music teacher, and a dozen other faces that I think were all of you, at different ages and times… I’m certain I saw the seventeen-year-old version of Rachel that I crushed on when I was thirteen.” I laughed softly. “All the women that had ever fought my corner… I’m not saying there weren’t men who impacted my life too. Maybe she decided they needed a hand and stepped in to help them all out.”

She was quiet for a moment, and I let it stretch out around us. “I think there’s been a bigger picture here for a long time. Maybe at the start, I wasn’t part of it, until paths crossed, and courses changed… but… Maybe I am supposed to be a part of this journey with you.” Then I laughed again. “It sounds a little self-important when I say it out loud…”

Comparing the things, I was seeing and feeling with becoming an Alpha? There was no comparison with the responsibilities Leah was destined to shoulder.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Don’t do that,” I said right away when he laughed. Because in this laughter I felt self-deprecation and not the evolution we both knew he had begun to develop.

“Don’t underestimate yourself and your ability to give what is needed on this journey we call life.” He’d done it all his life. Questioned his birth and his place in his tribe.

“I know I never stopped you when I should have before. But I am now.” I knew it came out harsher than I intended. But I couldn’t help it. And I wasn’t going to apologise for it. I didn’t know when my hand found his over my shoulder, but I was aware of my fingers lacing into it across my chest.

“I can’t tell you how to decipher her meaning. That’s what this path is all about. What I may see, and what you see are going to be different, mean different things. But I do know. It all means something in the end.”

Turning my face to look at him. “Even if you’re seeing your beautiful teenage crush.” Smirking a little. I knew the Black twins were the dreams of many boys and girls. And who could blame them?

•- Embry Call -•

My first instinct was to correct her and downplay it… but this was Leah… and we didn’t do that. Not anymore. So, I gave it a minute to sink in and I turned to press a kiss to her hair. “I’m not sure why I do that… but… I’m working on it.” I said softly.

“I think by showing me all the women that impacted my life she was showing me where her strength comes from, in a way I could relate to it…”  I squeezed her then and chuckled. “And don’t be jealous… I saw my beautiful current crush too.” As if Leah would ever stoop to something like jealousy. “I always saw how hard the women on the rez worked… for their friends, their families… the community. I took it for granted. Especially my mom… but not anymore.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

It earned him an elbow in the stomach, of course.

“As if I would be jealous of the twins. They are beautiful women. But… keep reminding Paul you crushed on his imprint. Let’s see how he tries to break your neck.” Smirking. “And I wouldn’t even jump in, because we don’t do that.”

Pretending to write a note in the air. “Buy more popcorn for the show.”

Smiling, I closed my eyes. Letting his kiss sink in.

“What’s changed for you? I mean. Opening your eyes to what was unseen doesn’t come without consequences. But for you, it sounds like you’re just taking it in your stride.”

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed… “Just kids’ stuff… Looking at how happy she is now… It was always meant to be. That much is very clear.” I grinned. “You know now that I think about it… we never butt heads over that. I even saw #Rachel before he did when she came home for that visit. But so much time had passed by then… all that was long forgotten. But everyone stopped teasing us about that crush afterwards.” I chuckled. I hadn’t been the only one guilty of a childhood crush on one of the twins.  “I guess they didn’t want to rock the boat… and they were so great together. Bickering like an old married couple from day one. #Paul struggled a lot with his temper, no one wanted to ruin it for him.”

I thought about her question… So much has changed, and nothing has changed at all. It was more my point of view, that had shifted. “I mean I always knew my mother was a powerhouse. But I guess I realised that’s not just something you are… you aren’t strong because you always were strong. People are strong because they learned to be, they struggled and fought to be strong, and they grew into it. No one is born that way… and Native women… They learn fast and young.” I took a slow breath. “And it can be taken away from any of us in the blink of an eye.”

Okay… so maybe not the blink of an eye… a least not in Mom’s case… but fuck! It sure felt like it.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Resting my head back, I was looking up at the ceiling remembering how Rachel and Paul came together. How they found their footing with each other, and still Paul messed up a few times.

“The main thing is Paul learnt from mistakes, and so did Rach. People forget imprinting does guarantee good times. Life still happens. Those two have learned how to make it work for them.”

Tilting my head to glance at him, I took in and understood everything he shared. “Hmm…” It was true, and the fact that Embry had been aware of the issue, I hoped would help in the long run of things.

•- Embry Call -•

I felt her shift and turned to look at her, meeting those deep, brown eyes with a soft smile. “I guess it doesn’t… but I think they all found it. There’ll be struggles and a little heartache from time to time. But with feelings that strong, it can’t be helped.”

I could see her mind working behind the scenes. “Besides… is it even possible…” I considered the words carefully, but talking about the imprinted couples I was sure she’d be fine with it. “… To love someone if you aren’t afraid to lose it? Can people feel that kind of attachment to something if they know without a single doubt it will always be there?”

Then my mind started to run wild. “I mean we can all love things that are infinite… the Ancestors... the Spirits… any god or deity from religions all over the planet… but everything we love in this world… is finite… it's limited… and People even more so. There are so many ways to lose a person. No matter the bond they share.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Every muscle in my body froze solid. My body reached to the mercy of that word and all the loss I defined it meant to me.

Was it logical? Spirits No.

Did I know? Spirits Yes!

But did it stop the irrational fear from coming to life? Fuck No!

Without saying anything I stood up to make space for myself. Looking around for something, anything to keep the hole in my soul from scratching and ripping my heart out.

Desire to flee began to grow, but her voice soothed the need. To the point that a walk into the kitchen to find my bottle of bourbon would replace the need to run from my own thoughts.

“I’m gonna get a drink. You want one?” I was gone before waiting for a reply. Making a list of the things I needed to do.

1. Get a glass

B. Take out the bourbon

3. Pour two fingers

D. Down it in one.

5. Repeat!

•- Embry Call -•

Shit! As soon as she was gone I dragged my hand through my hair and tipped my head back against the couch. The urge to call after her and say I was sorry was immense… but what was I sorry for? What I had said? No. How she was feeling? No. I didn’t like that she was hurting… but that wasn’t something to be sorry for… The fact that she felt like she needed to feel it in private? Maybe…

Spirits.

I didn’t answer her question. But she had asked it, so I didn’t think she wanted me to leave her alone for the rest of the night. But she knew all she had to do was say so if she needed that… right?

I listened to her moving around the kitchen, I said nothing… giving her space. Space to let me know what she needed… space to feel her feelings… space to (I hoped) remember she could feel those feelings right here with me if she wanted to.

Then the music played in my head; the perfect way to tell her: 

I’m here.

I see all of you.

All your broken and unbroken pieces.

And I wouldn’t change a single one.

I picked up my phone and scrolled until I found it.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Times like this had become few and far between, where I felt like climbing the walls, like running until my heart, legs and chest couldn’t take anymore and then keep going.

Downing another pour of the amber liquid, not allowing myself to taste or enjoy it, I set the glass down and gripped the counter hard. Reminding myself not to break it!

Closing my eyes, I felt my hair falling open, hiding me from the spirits who watched. Ashamed of the reaction I still felt an emotion people seek out in life. And here I was, running from it?

 ‘You don’t give yourself enough credit. You are holding on to it because you can’t see how your world has evolved in this way.’

I didn’t believe her, there was no evolution here. Replaying Embry’s words:

“𝕀𝕤 𝕚𝕥 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟 𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖… 𝕋𝕠 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕟’𝕥 𝕒𝕗𝕣𝕒𝕚𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕝𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕚𝕥?”

The fear of losing that person was what had my stomach churning?

“ℂ𝕒𝕟 𝕡𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕒 𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕝𝕖 𝕕𝕠𝕦𝕓𝕥 𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕓𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖?”

I guess I couldn’t. The fear of feeling that broken, that lost, that unhinged made my walls go up so hard and fast, that I didn’t even want to consider the alternative.

And then we heard it. The words spoken by another. But saying the things we couldn’t say ourselves.

Embry Call had learnt how to speak to me when I had no words to share!

•- Embry Call -•

I set my phone on her coffee table and stood still, watching the doorway and trying not to act on the tell-tale sounds of her internal struggle in the kitchen. She wasn’t like anyone else in my life… I wouldn’t need to think about following one of the guys and putting a hand on their shoulder or hugging them… if they truly want to be alone they would tell me to fuck off and then it would be forgotten the next day.

Leah was different. Intruding into Leah’s grief would be a violation, it was something she’d held inside for her alone. Only once had I been invited to be with her in one of those moments and I didn’t want it to be the last time. I wanted to be a part of her hard days too… But I knew that would take time… Time I was more than ready to give.

It was when Lily sang “𝔸𝕝𝕝 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕖𝕕𝕘𝕖𝕤 𝕗𝕚𝕥 𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕖.” My wolf took us around the sofa, and we headed to the door, convinced that at her side was where we were supposed to be right now. From the second my feet began to move… I could no longer think of a single reason that he might be wrong.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I stood there in silence, listening to the song, and breathing deeply to control this outburst. And my warrior allowed me to gather myself.

Even with my eyes closed, I heard him setting his phone down, heard his footsteps coming around towards me and I held my eyes open. Running this madness of emotions through my head. What had I been thinking? It wasn’t fair on Embry to see all of this!

Rubbing my face with the back of my sleeve, straightening up I took out the bottle of Jameson I kept in the cabinet for him, and a glass. Pouring him two fingers I turned to face the door. Holding the glass out towards him.

•- Embry Call -•

I was just in the doorway when I spotted her… Waiting for me, of course… whiskey in hand. It made me smile; despite knowing she was in turmoil. Because this was, Leah… in a dark moment she wanted to be here for me. No matter how the tables should be reversed, this was where she came back to herself… doing for others. #Kim and #Claire would call it her love language… what was it they said? 𝔸𝕔𝕥𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕔𝕖.

So, for this reason alone I took the glass and took a mouthful… “Thank you,” I told her before I set it down on the counter next to her. I touched her cheek and slipped one arm around her waist; stepping in as I pulled her close at the same time. Kissing her forehead. One. The tip of her nose. Two. And her lips. Three. She tasted like her usual bourbon.

I took my hand from her face and wrapped it around her too, leaning my cheek against her hair. I whispered. “I got you.” Nothing else needed to be said as shuffle did the talking for me.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

This is where that evolution kicked in. The knowledge that I didn’t have to push him out the door, I could say the word and he would leave without a question. Let me stew in my own thoughts until I dug myself out of the hole I’d fallen into.

Knowing, I didn’t have to explain myself in any way gave me the confidence to understand he was where I needed him to be.

I closed my eyes resting myself against his body. Our bodies came together with my arms slipping under his arms and around his back holding him to me.

His heat matched mine, his heartbeat calm against mine. His whisper…. Spirits! I knew it was true…

“Dance with me?” My reply. Because standing still knowing where my mind wanted to live, and I didn’t want that. I wanted to be here present with Embry.

The song spoke a story that was equally beautiful and painful. Reminding me that life came with all aspects, and without one, we wouldn’t know our truth. Because let’s face it. The pain is where our strength comes from.

‘Not just pain… there is more to strengthen.’ She showed me my Ma, the Kid, MsC…. And….. Embry’s eyes!

•- Embry Call -•

My heart stilled when she eased against me, and I knew there was no one else in this world or the next who could understand how it felt to have Leah Clearwater lean on them… literally and figuratively.

It was a trust beyond measure.

I smiled, eyes closed when she made her request, committing the moment to memory. It might seem weird… she was hurting… and this was one I decided was unforgettable. But trust me… this was a moment to remember. “I thought you’d never ask.” I gave a small chuckle and held her close, moving in slow, small circles.

I pressed a kiss to her temple as James TW sang out our truth from the next room.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Moving into him took no thought. Resting my cheek on his shoulder had no thoughts too. Holding him and being held by him… no thoughts at all. It felt right and natural to do.

I didn’t need to thank him or say a word for him to understand where I went. But in my evolving sense, I began to think of ways to articulate what it was that made me run. What made me react? And why hadn’t I moved past it all?

But closing my eyes, breathing him in, letting the words of the song sink in, it was all I needed right now.

I let Embry lead the direction of our movement, I trusted him with my truths, a dance in the kitchen was fair game.

•- Embry Call -•

My heart gave a few erratic thumps… I couldn’t think of anywhere else in the world that I would rather be in this moment. Dancing with Leah, to this specific track playing from the other room, now, tonight. This was part of an intricate plan that was set in place by forces bigger than us and the fact that the two of us chose to follow the path had led us here.

It made everything feel bigger like it was part of a grand scheme.

I rested my cheek against the top of her head. My hands kept a firm hold of her, letting her know without words that I wasn’t letting go, the fingers resting on the small of her back-traced a small, sweeping figure-eight against the fabric of her shirt.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The symbol he was drawing on my back spoke volumes in the silence that held us in this moment.

The sound of his heart did the same over the words and the rhythm of the music playing from the other room.

I knew I didn’t need another person in my life to make me feel seen, heard, and even safe.

But to have someone who was a friend… who was more…. They were a person willing to see the world through my eyes, to understand my feelings and my outlook. But still waited for me to come back to them. By the spirits… it was a first with Embry.

I kept my eyes closed, turning my head on his shoulders to face him. Placing one soft kiss on his neck. In my own way saying. ‘Still real. And I know. You got me.’ Because he did.

•- Embry Call -•

I let out a soft hum at her kiss, it made my heart stutter a few beats... speaking to her as the shuffle gods worked their magic with the next song.

There wasn't anything I needed to say... or anything she needed to hear right now. All we needed was to be right here. After years of hiding away, these deep scars were slowly melting away. I didn't know how long it would take for her to stop hiding it when it accosted her unprepared... I wanted to be here for it. I smiled a little... Spirits, what was this woman doing to me?

She was letting her need me... she could get through these emotions alone... It would look a lot different, but she had done it many times and she could do it again. But right now, she was letting me in, and the music was speaking for me.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

His heartbeat spoke volumes louder than words ever could. Even if Embry Call had found a way for me to hear the words too.

I couldn’t be any more thankful to him, because he didn’t ask for an explanation or search for answers. He didn’t expect anything from me, other than what I was willing and able to give.

When the song changed, my heartbeat gave a kick. This song brought back memories, emotions, and unspoken conversations between us.

Moving slowly, swaying from side to side. I listened to each word, and the message of this song always hit hard. I just never understood how much until now.

•- Embry Call -•

There was a strange sort of contentment at this moment with her. It seemed strange... but in all the ways that mattered, it wasn't strange at all. No one was ever going to go through their life without pain, upset and trauma. The best we, the people who care for the hurting party, could hope for was to make the journey through that pain a little less difficult. I would never presume my presence alone could lessen what Leah was feeling. But I was here, and I was wanted here. I wasn't going anywhere.

We danced... more like swayed in her kitchen, and it was all that mattered, we were here... holding on. Until...

[Body Like A Back Road – Sam Hunt]

I couldn't stop my chuckle.

"Well, I guess the shuffle gods have a limit on reading the room."

Then again... maybe that was exactly what they were doing.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Turning my head so that my face was in the crook of his neck my lips curled up into a smile. Slow, small shake of my head I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop from laughing. Because that would just be crazy come to roost!

“Of course…” I whispered. I knew I had to come out of this hole I began digging. But I also knew it wasn’t as deep as it used to be. “There is a limit to gloom… within the bubble,” I added.

Sighing before pushing my head up to hold myself straight. “And the perfect song choice too. I can’t be mad at Sam… he is my guy.” Half smiling now.

•- Embry Call -•

I could feel her smile, by the tell-tale shifting of her cheek on my shoulder and I couldn’t help the jolt my heart gave. When she lifted her head I held her gaze. “No…” I shook my head. “No limits, you can take as much time as you need. No matter what song is playing, Trouble. Always… Okay?” I hoped she understood. I would always make the time to be here for her when she wanted me to be.

I tilted my head at her comment about Sam. “Oh really!” I smirked… “Might be time to take him off the playlists then… Not sure I can compete.” I teased and turned us both around like I was about to head to the living room and turn off the song.

I knew there was no competition. She didn’t want anyone to compete for her. I’d never really seen the idea of competing for someone as a compliment anyway. It was about your own ego and not the person you were supposedly fighting for. I kissed her forehead… and whispered. “I got you.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Closing my eyes, I dropped my head letting his lips and kiss leave their mark. Not a physical one visible to others. But this one was for me and my warrior.

“I know…” I told him. For both knowing I didn’t have to rush out of this darkness, and the fact that he had me.

“Wow.. wow.. wow..” Not letting go of him, even if I knew he was joking.

“Let’s not make any harsh decisions about Sammy, the human worked hard to make a place on the playlist. We can’t just kick him off.”

Turned us around 180 degrees so that he couldn’t just rush off to the living room.

“We should sleep on it, think carefully, and maybe even think about a cooling off period before doing something you might regret.” Looking into his eyes now as I spoke. “After all, he did have a lot to do with our first open conversation and the laughs which came with it?”

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed, never taking my eyes off her. The fact that she could change my momentum so easily… without any hint of effort… there was no denying it. It was sexy as fuck.

I thought about her proposition. “Okay… fine. But!” I added the caveat. “If he keeps flirting with you through song; I might just have to go full alphahole on our dear Sammy boy.” I raised a brow. “I don’t think I can be responsible for my actions.”

I smiled and kissed her softly. “Let’s sleep on it.” My eyes stayed locked on hers… her way of saying 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕪 echoed between us very clearly. “I suppose we owe him at least that much.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

First things first. I’m not a damsel who sits her arse down waiting to be saved or protected. I am the protector! So, when I feel that clenched muscles in the depths of my body. With a heat lacing its way up the side of my neck. All in reaction to him joking about going 𝔸𝕝𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕖 on a musician's arse. This wasn’t the reaction I was expecting at all!

When his eyes caught mine, the unspoken word was heard loud and clear. So, I nod my head slowly with my fingers coming to stroke his cheek.

Lowering my voice. “You can’t hold Sammy responsible for his actions. Have you seen me? It’s beyond his control.” Half smiling still as I spoke. “But I’m glad we could come to some agreement on the matter, Dimples.”

•- Embry Call -•

A slow smile spread across my face… She liked that…

“Well, well.” My voice was low and rumbling. “Isn’t this a revelation?” I leaned in and inhaled deeply. The cheeky smile turned soft at her touch, now she was doing that thing with her voice that made my heart skip. “Oh, I have seen you, Trouble… but it’s a sight I don’t think anyone could get enough of.”

I kissed her one more time and said, “Shall we?” The music in the next room was playing still.

[Catch – Brett Young]

I grinned as I stepped away from her, letting my hand trail off of her hips. I downed what was left in my glass… it would be a crime to waste it after all. Then I grabbed her empty one and took them to the sink to wash them. She was a meticulous creature and we both knew she wouldn’t sleep with dirty dishes in the kitchen.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

That was going to happen when the walls I had up came down within our bubble. Of course, nothing was hidden from him within these walls.

My first reaction should have been to punch him /Hard/. But there wasn’t where our evolution brought us now. So, I shrugged my shoulders as to say. ‘Now you know. And what?’

I let him go, stepping away until I felt the counters behind me, tilting my head to watch as he closed my kitchen for me.

By the spirits, he had really made his place in my home. Just as he now had ‘his side or the bed.’ One I didn’t even notice when or how it had happened. One day it wasn’t, and the next…

I licked my lips, listening to the music, letting myself go with the rhythm and the sound of his heart beating calming me too.

When I saw he was done, I held my hand out towards him.

“We shall..”

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her… So, jealousy was sexy now… that was where we were at? I chuckled and licked my lips as I glanced over at her, setting the glasses on the side. Even if it was hypothetical jealousy… Apparently, I liked it as much as she did, maybe more.

She hadn’t gone to check the house was locked up… I tilted my head, drying my hands before I slipped my hand into her outstretched one. Nothing about this journey with Leah was mundane in any way… but some things were routine, and even I was shocked at how much I liked it… maybe it was because I knew it gave her comfort. But that didn’t matter, maybe it was the routine or maybe it was how she felt, that made me like it… all that mattered was that we both liked it.

But this… My thumb brushed the back of her hand… this was a deviation from the routine… I smiled at her. It wasn’t the first and it wouldn’t be the last. “Lead the way, Trouble.” I smiled. And follow her, I would.  To whatever end.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Feeling the way his touch felt in my hand made my heart and stomach do something they did when he was close, in our bubble.

“Hmm… all because you want to check me out from behind.” I teased. Of course, I did. But at the same time, I did lead the way. Stopping at the living room, to find the windows closed.

I knew my house was closed to the world outside, but I also knew I no longer needed to make sure it was. Sure, I didn’t need someone to feel secure. I had myself in check when it came to that. But with Embry here… this just felt right… like a step was taken on our journey together. Reaching out as we walked by, I pushed the button to turn the speaker off, before taking him down the hallway to the bathroom door. Turning I kissed his cheek.

“You can go first tonight.” Kissing his cheek again letting him go.

•- Embry Call -•

A smile spread across my face. “That is a definite perk.” I laughed, but I already told her when it was her time… I would follow her lead. And I still meant that.

And follow I did… dropping my gaze to her arse and smiling. “Spirits! What a view!”

She didn’t let go of me to go through her routine, instead headed towards the bedroom. I leaned in and kissed her once. “Okay…” I opened the door, still holding her hand. “Feel free to be undressed when I walk into the bedroom.” I teased her… but I was certainly not opposed to the idea in the slightest.

I let her go and slipped inside, Retrieving the bag she kept in a drawer for me and started to clean up before bed.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I knew he was checking me out from behind. It was an absolute pleasure to have his eyes on me.

Then his comment about being undressed made me laugh and shake my head.

“What and give you a heart attack? What would the spirits say?” Keeping my tone light with the tease.

Once he went into the bathroom, I walked to the back door. Locking it and checking the windows to the utility area there before making my way to my bedroom.

Heading straight to the windows, I opened them both wide. Letting the sound of the rain, and the cooling breeze in. Closing my eyes, to listen to the sounds of the night, hearing the thunder coming from afar.

The spirits were singing in a low hum, welcoming the thunder and the rain to our lands. So, I whispered a prayer along with them. Wanting the night to protect those who needed it and give strength to those who had lost theirs.

I began humming to myself as I undressed from my clothes. Undoing my bar and slipping out of my underwear. Setting everything into the laundry basket.

Once upon a time, I would be done, ready to climb into my bed but now. I’d moved to my drawers to pull out one of his T-shirts. Slipping it on, before I began turning the bed down.

I could hear him moving around, with my eyes set on ‘his side’, of my bed.

•- Embry Call -•

“Spirits!” I muttered. “At least I would go smiling and horny.” I laughed as I vanished behind the door.

I listened to her moving around the room as I readied myself, brushing my teeth and washing up… even cleaning out the sink for her when she came in here next.

The scent and sound of the rain in her room made me stop and smile. But the sight of her in 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 t-shirt… made my heart stop and restart a moment later. This woman was one of a kind. I wrapped my arms around her from behind and whispered. “Thinking about stealing my side of the bed?” I asked her. I knew what she was looking at. I had stood in the same place thinking the same thing, many times. “I’ll fight you for it?” I teased.

I rested my chin on her shoulder, listening to the world beyond the window. “Spirits… That is the best sound isn’t it?” She’d know I meant the rain… it made me bury my nose in my hair. She always smelled of rain, sea air and the forest… like she had just been for a ride in typical La Push weather. “The scent always reminds me of you.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“There you go… promising me a good time again.” My lips curled up into the smile only he witnessed these days. “I’m not sure she would let me. She may even hold me back.” She was listening. Saying nothing. Leaving me to have my time with Embry.

I closed my eyes with his arms around me. Heat rose up the side of my neck at being caught out, with the reality of how he knew just where my mind had gone.

It wasn’t that my warrior and I hadn’t heard him coming. It was that we chose to remain in our memories and mine space because we trusted in him.

The scent of Embry filled my space, mingling with the rain, fresh mint, and soap. Each fragrance completely transformed my mind to different places in my memory before I was back in this room.

Resting my hands over his, leaning into his hold and body, I took the time to refresh all those memories with this scent. This feeling of being held by him.

“Hmm…” I finally opened my eyes. Knowing he meant the rain. “But listening from my ears… It’s even better…” because I could appreciate the sound his heart added to the mix.

My heart betrayed me again, but this time I just went with the flow. I turned myself around in his arms. I kissed his lips softly. “I won’t be long.” Kissing him again.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled. “Trust me… I know. She’s sixty percent of the reason I’m here to start with.” I laughed, my breath dancing against her skin. The way she let her body ease into mine always gave me the greatest kind of chills. It was trust… and trust I knew she hadn’t shown anyone else. It was a spiritual experience every time.

“So corny.”  I teased her and kissed her quickly beneath her ear, hearing how her heart gave her away and then mine skipped… like they were having a conversation in a secret code we weren’t allowed to know. She spun inside my hold, and I smiled widely when those eyes linked with mine for that second before they closed when she kissed me. “Try not to miss me.” I teased and slowly trailed my hands off her hips as I let her go.

I moved over to the chair I normally kept my clothes on and made sure to lift my t-shirt before she stepped out of the room.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Such a Wisearse!” Smiling, I backhand slapped his arse walking away from him towards the bedroom door, turning to look back over my shoulder not expecting anything, until my core and all the muscles in me clenched tightly.

Shaking my head. “Tease!” Smiling, I walked barefoot down the hallway. Closing the door and readying my back on it. My eyes up asking the spirits what he was doing to me!

When I glanced around the bathroom, a frown and a smile popped over me at the same time. He’d used the space and left it clean, tidy, and set to use again.

Yeah… He most definitely… found himself fully integrated into my home life.

•- Embry Call -•

“Kinky!” I laughed when she swatted my arse. Honestly, it was kind of a turn-on.

I folded my clothes and set my phone and the hospital beeper on the bedside table. I hummed a Brett Young song as I did… since he was fresh on my mind and the tune was particularly relevant. By the time I reached the chorus, the words were playing in my head.

𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼

𝗚𝗼 𝗼𝗻, 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿

𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆, 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆, "𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲'𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲"

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵

𝗜 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂

[Dance With You – Brett Young]

Before I knew it I was singing out loud as I climbed into 𝕞𝕪 𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖 of her bed. I smiled and inhaled the cool night air filling her room… the night had been heavy… but there wasn't a thing I would change. We were here for each other… and I knew that wasn't easy… but it was effortless.

And that meant something. Right?

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My mind wasn’t racing, it was calm as still water while I made my way around the bathroom preparing myself.

The conversation of going through my thoughts, the wheres, hows, and whys of the time spent, and each time I came to understand a part of the conversation. His smiling face flashed. At how easy it was to let myself be seen by him, to react honestly and openly. To step away and take time, and how he was there telling me by his actions when that time was enough.

Embry allowed himself to step back. Gave me time to collect myself. But... then, stepped up… showed me, told me… I wasn’t doing this on my own anymore.

It was when I was drying and cleaning the sink that he began to sing.  Through the mirror, my gaze sat on the door listening to him. Smiling at him naturally expressing himself.

Turning the lights off, I slowly made my way down the hall. Pulling my hair out from under the tee, where I had left it while washing my face.

When I came to the door, I stood there listening to him sing, watching him climb into bed. Feeling the warmth in this stolen moment into his nighttime routine.

“Great choice in songs.” Finally stepping into the room out of the darkness of the hallway. “Don’t stop?” It was an incredible way to look into his soul. By the songs he picked.

Walking up to his side table, leaning down to kiss him once. My fingers reached over to curl around the beeper.

When I stood again, I brought it with me to my side setting it down beside my bottle of water before climbing in beside him.

•- Embry Call -•

I did stop for a second when she spoke… I smiled up at her as she leaned down to kiss me. I wondered for a moment why she wouldn’t have climbed in and given me that kiss. But she answered that by picking up the beeper. Even now… after the storm of emotions she’d weathered tonight; she still lifted this burden. I didn’t stop her, Leah knew her limits and I wasn’t going to question them.

I watched her walk back around the bed and gave her her request.

“𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕪. 𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘.”

Singing without music… either playing music or singing along to a track; I had done before… Spirits! Even when I sang in the shower I normally had music. This a cappella thing… it revealed the flaws in my voice. But that was okay.

She climbed in next to me and I turned to her. My hand reached across her and slid her closer by her waist.

“𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕙 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟, 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕚𝕟'𝕥 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕟' 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕘.”

I leaned in and the next words were spoken more than sang.

“ℂ𝕝𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕖𝕪𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖, 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥, 𝕗𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕞𝕪 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕕.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

There were no flaws in his voice. How could there be? He sang from the heart, and the spirits accompanied from outside.

The way he slid me across the bed and into him, made my blood roil in a pleasant way. Sure I knew his strength. But this, seeing it first-hand. Especially when you took things like this for granted. It came with the added bonus of being shaken for a moment.

I did as he sang and said. Entwining my legs around his, my arm slipped its way to rest over his waist. My head was over his arm, and I kissed the crook of his neck, taking in this scent I seemed to crave so often when we were apart. When.. well.. when I missed him!

His voice was just what this night needed. This… laying beside him and falling asleep with him beside me.

“Sweet dreams, dimples,” I whispered. Breathing him in again.

•- Embry Call -•

She twisted herself up with me, making my breath catch… and yet she wanted me to keep singing? Thank the Spirits I never claimed singing as one of my many talents. But, still… she would get what she wanted, even when that kiss made me forget the words for a second. I kept singing once they returned to me.

“𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕟, 𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕜 𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕒 𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕘, 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕠

𝔾𝕠 𝕠𝕟, 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕙𝕒𝕚𝕣

𝔹𝕒𝕓𝕪, 𝕜𝕚𝕔𝕜 𝕠𝕗𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕖𝕤

𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕤𝕒𝕪, "𝕃𝕚𝕗𝕖'𝕤 𝕒 𝕕𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖"

𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥'𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕥𝕙

𝕀 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒 𝕕𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕪𝕠𝕦

𝕀 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒 𝕕𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕪𝕠𝕦”

Here I was… in Leah Clearwater’s bed… holding her, singing to her… Singing to her about holding her… about dancing with her through this crazy, whirlwind, exhilarating path. I rested my cheek against the top of her head. Listening to the rain and lingering echoes of my borrowed words. “Sleep well, Trouble.”

[spaceisout]

𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 // 𝙠𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙢𝙞

Pairing: keigo takami x f!reader

Words: 2.681

Summary: being married young was never in either of your plans, more or less being married to a hero and a quirkless human. still, it made an interesting switch to your lives, one you might not regret.

Warning(s): angst, fluff, slight cursing

A/n: this is a mini series that i have in mind, i hope you like it and any feedback is appreciated thank you! Also taglist is available to anyone who would like to be updated.

Links: donate to the author, masterlist (coming soon), series list (coming soon),

Taglist: @alligator-person @bakugosgirl01 @deathkat657

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2 ◁ II ▷ 4

"Can you please pass the rice?" you asked sitting crossed legged on the chair across from Keigo.

"Here you go." he said handing you the big bowl of fresh steaming rice.

"Thank you." taking the big bowl you grabbed the paddle and placed some rice onto your smaller bowl.

Today the two of you decided to take a day off for yourselves given you were still on your honeymoon. Since you could not be in the public eye together, he was kind enough to make breakfast for the two of you despite coming home so late.

Of course you offered but he kept saying no and that he wanted to prepare something nice for you since you decided to wait up for him until he got home.

As you ate you couldn't help but notice a bruise forming next to his neck and on the side of arm. Keigo was wearing casual clothes, a short sleeve t-shirt that was tight around his upper arm muscles and a pair of sweatpants that hung slightly low but not too much that it exposed his waistline.

He had said a villain had come across his path as he was heading back, but even so he took sharp breaths whenever he leaned forward or reached up to grab something from the top shelf.

Keigo was in pain, but tried to disguise it.

"Everything, alright?" He questioned looking your way. "You haven't blinked in a while, (name)."

"O―oh, yeah... it's just..." you looked down feeling embarrassed that he had noticed you staring. "I couldn't help and see that you are pain, even though you don't say anything. I saw the way you winced when you tried reaching for the spice rack."

"Oh that." he slightly smiled looking down at his half eaten plate of food. "The fight ended up being a three against one type of situation. One of the villain's quirk was super strength so his hits kinda made it hard for me to fight him off."

"I figured that was the case." you said looking at him with worried eyes, "If you get hurt you do not need to stay silent about it. I do not want you to over do it when you are supposed to be resting."

Keigo was taken back by your words, he was so used to being alone that he kinda forgot how it felt to have someone worry about his well being. It was... an overwhelming feeling to say the least.

"R―right..." he cleared his throat. "I didn't think it was something to worry about―"

"Keigo," you sighed softly speaking. "I understand this marriage was formed due to a deal but even so... we are living together. I've gotten to know more about you and I have come to think of you as a friend. I worry about my friends well being whether that is emotional or physical."

"I've been demoted from husband to friend?" He gasped, teasing you.

"I―I mean..."

He chuckled, "I was just kidding." A smile rested on his lips, "I'm glad to see that you consider me as a friend. I actually thought that the further this marriage went the more strict and lonesome it would be. Of course you do not seem the type to be that way at all!―"

"Keigo," you couldn't help and chuckle as well seeing he was trying not to say anything bad about you. "I understand where you are coming from it's okay. I actually felt the same way at first."

Throwing his head back he sighed in relief. "I was thinking of ways to make you feel comfortable. I did not want this to feel like those arranged marriages where you can't say or do anything."

"I can tell, which is why I like having you around," your cheeks turned a slight pink. "I hope you can consider me as a friend or someone you can lean on if anything bothers you."

Before you two got married, there was something inside of him that knew this marriage would change him. Whether it was good or bad, something was going to come out of it. But now as he is experiencing this it has become clear that you were the best choice.

"I hope... you can do so as well, (name)." he said. "I may not be able to do something more openingly but if you need help you can count on me."

You both continued to eat breakfast, having small conversations here and there. Even then it felt as if the pressure that first fell on you two, three days ago was no longer present. Now it just appeared to be two friends enjoying their breakfast together.

After you both finished eating you decided to clean up since Keigo had been the one to cook and of course he was injured.

"I can help―"

"Keigo, no offence but stop being stubborn." you chuckled carrying the plates over to the sink. "It's not a lot to clean up. I can manage a few dishes."

"Fine." he pouted, "I'll go shower in the meanwhile then."

You gave him a cheeky smile, "Good."

He quickly turned around and headed towards his room before you even catch a glimpse of his blushed face.

As you started to wash the dishes there was a sound coming from the intercom near the elevator door. Turning off the water you walked over to see someone familiar standing inside of it.

"(name)?" the women spoke. "It's me, can you um let me in? I don't know how this thing works."

Your body backed away from the ashy colored doors. Eyes widened with disbelief knowing that your own sister was close by.

"(name)? Are you home?"

You felt conflicted about letting her in. Keigo knew you had a sister that worked over sees, apart from that he did not know much. You did not want to keep this secret from her, your parents most likely kept quiet about it until it was on your own terms to let her know.

Honestly you kinda thought you had more time before she came back home but by the looks of it, it was going to be sooner than you thought.

Swallowing down the huge lump in your throat, pressed the button to let her in.

You waited at the entrance for her arrival, feeling nervous about her reaction. By the sound of the water turning on you might have time before Keigo came out of the shower. But even then you knew it was hopeless to even think you had time.

As the ashy doors opened you were greeted with a worried sister, rushing towards you and pulling you into a tight hug.

"(name)," she whispered holding back the tears that brimmed her eyes. "I've been so worried about you."

"Himiko." you softly said hugging her back, "I'm okay."

Your sister sighed pulling away from you as she took a good look at your whole self. "I haven't heard a single thing about you in five months! Every time I asked my parents about you they kept saying you were busy."

"B―because I have been!" you retorted trying to make their lies believable. "I got a good job working at a nearby school and moving here took awhile longer than I thought it would last year."

"It still doesn't make any sense to me as to why you ignored my calls." she stated, "I kept trying to reach out but it always lead to voicemail and you don't even answer my texts!"

"Himiko..." you bit your lip contemplating on how to say what you were thinking. "I understand you being worried, I just don't get why all of a sudden you―"

"You're my sister!" she exclaimed. "Of course I'm going to be freaking worried about you."

"But you never were when you went and accepted that job over seas." You pointed out looking away from her hurt expression. "You became distant and all that mattered to you was your career."

"I had to focus, (name)."

"I get that." you said, "I understand and I'm happy for you that you have been able to realize your dream. Even so you neglected our family, Himiko. My mom kept trying to call you but you ignored her and couldn't even send a message or take some time to call during Christmas."

Himiko looked away trying to hide the guilt in her face. "I got a lot more busy than I had anticipated. I tried to call as well."

"They were a minute long conversation and it was before you were called in again."

She knew you were right. Her career suddenly became the only thing she knew besides breathing and sleeping. Other relationships weren't important as making sure her career kept climbing higher. Even her colleagues took priority over her own family, something she wasn't proud of.

"I wanted to become better," she explained. "I needed to. I always wanted to prove to everyone back home how much better I became. I did not want them to look down on me if I ever did come back. I felt supported and wanted at my work place, I did not want to loose the feeling of being treated as an equal for once."

"I know how much you struggled."

Playing with her fingers she kept talking, "I did not mean to push you guys off to the side. It just happened and it was something I had no control over once it was out of my hands, I'm sorry."

"Himiko you do have control over what you chose to put as your priorities." You said, "Your career is important but it shouldn't over top your well being. You need to rest and take a breather for once. You're a great employee, they can see that and I'm sure they wouldn't mind you taking a vacation or a break now and then."

"Actually..." she looked up at you once again feeling the uneasiness leaving her body. "I had asked for a couple of days to come back home."

"I'm glad you did, I'm sure mom and dad were thrilled to see you."

"Are you?" Himiko asked, "Are you... glad to see me too after years?"

A sad smile formed on your lips, nodding. "I'm happy to see you, again Himiko."

"Hey, (name) have you seen where I put the extra towels the other day?"

You closed your eyes tightly knowing things were about to go the opposite direction.

"I wanted to put them in the new rack by the door―"

Keigo stopped talking as he realized there was a stranger standing in front of you. Quickly he flew over wrapped his wings around your figure, shielding you away from your sister.

"How the hell did you get in here?" He questioned, glaring at her direction.

"You're married to Hawks?!" Himiko yelled. "How the hell did you marry Hawks?!"

"Uh... I'm sorry?" He asked feeling quite offended.

"Himiko... this is Keigo Takami, my husband." You said trying to ease the tension.

"Himiko?" Keigo muttered under his breath and unwrapped his wings from your body. "As in that Himiko? Your sister Himiko?"

You nodded slowly looking away.

"You're (name)'s sister..."

"I am." She stated crossing her arms in front of her chest with furrowed eyebrows. "How did you convince her to marry you?"

"Well―"

"It was actually my idea." you answered cutting him off, his parted to contradict you but you shook your head. "I was the one who offered it after well... he helped our parents out."

Himiko looked at you confused, "What are you― what are you even talking about? What did he help them out with?"

"They're business was in bad shape, the debt kept climbing higher as the months passed by. I tried helping them out with my job but it wasn't enough to cover the costs." You explained placing your hand on Keigo's shoulder. "But he came in one day after they had come to collect the money. Keigo over heard everything and offered his help on his day off, I thought it was a big gesture and decided to pay him back by marrying him."

"Out of all the things you could have done you―" she was too stunned to speak that she kept tripping over her words. "Why― why did you go with that? I thought Hizashi was the one who you'd end up marrying!"

"Hizashi? I told you we were just close friends."

"Marriage is a big deal!" She exclaimed grabbing you by your shoulders. "You said you wanted to wait for the right person, how can you throw that away?!"

"I didn't throw it away, Himiko." You said trying your best to calm her down.

"You did! You married him when you don't even love him. And you!" She turned to glare at him. "How dare you take advantage of it?! You should have known better than to accept something like this."

It was true, he could have said no but he secretly did not want to. As popular as he was, he felt alone every time he came back to his penthouse.

"He tried to reason with me but I begged him, okay?" You answered for him. "I was the one who told him to accept this trade."

"I asked him." She sternly said not looking at you.

"Like (name) said, I tried to reason with her but she didn't accept a no." He said knowing well he was lying. "I admit I kinda wanted to see what it was like to be married."

"That's not even an answer, only an experiment you wanted to experience yourself without considering any of her feelings."

"Himiko you're being harsh." You said making her look at you. "Why does it even matter?―"

"Because I left and you turned into― into this."

Your eyebrows knit together in confusion. "What does you leaving... have anything to do with the decision I decided to make?"

"Before I left you felt certain about what you wanted," Himiko explained. "You'd never, ever think about giving up your own happiness for selfish needs."

There was so much patience you had for people but it was starting to thin out seeing how rash your sister was being.

Sucking in your teeth you tried not to explode, "You have no say in the decisions that I take for myself." You said pointing at yourself. "You left to focus on your own life you were never responsible for my own, Himiko."

She shook her head walking back and forth with her hands resting on her hips. "I'm not going to let this keep going. I can't believe our parents did not even think twice in selling you."

"They didn't sell me," You angrily spoke your eyes not leaving your sister's figure as she ran her fingers through her thick brown hair.

"Then what do you call it huh!?" Himiko yelled taking a step forward and getting in your face. "They're treating you as if this was the damn 18th century all over again."

"Seriously?" Keigo retorted, "Why are you insulting her for something that she chose to do?"

"Stay out of it―"

"No." He slipped his hand into yours, "She's my wife and I won't let you talk about her that way. She's your sister for crying out loud Himiko!"

"Because she's my sister is why I'm trying to protect her from people like you."

"You're not protecting her, you're only hurting her." He said trying to calm himself down, sighing he continued. "You may be blood related but it doesn't give you the right to treat her this way, not when she's my family too."

"Be grateful I didn't get my friend to get out a restraining order."

"Are you kidding me―"

"Stop it." you looked down at the floor. "You have no right to judge me or them when you don't even want to try and understand."

"I do not have to try and understand something so stupid."

Your shoulders sagged, realizing what this whole thing was truly about. The realization hit you, soon it felt like how when you were kids all over again.

"And I don't have to reason with someone so― so..." you stuttered trying to not insult her back but it was difficult. "Ignorant... and judgemental."

Her eyes widened, tears brimming in her eyes, "I'm not going to stand back and watch as you two stay together. I won't let you stay with someone that you do not love."

"It's my life not yours."

"This marriage isn't your life, (name)."

Himiko turned to look at an infuriated Hawks, his wings moving back and forth as he stood firmly beside you, silently letting her know that he was there to protect you.

"You're not going to keep my sister caged in here, you hear me?"

Without another word she grabbed her purse and walked in long strides towards the elevator, pressing the button until the doors finally opened.

As soon as she was out of sight you collapsed to the floor. Keigo wrapped his arms around your back and front to stop you from falling down harshly onto the cold white tile.

You looked down at the floor, spaced out, however your mind was moving around in a sea of thoughts and emotions. Your body wanted to break down, you felt the urge to cry. The feeling of hurt and betrayal, pained a lot more and thus you couldn't physically cry only felt the ache in your chest.

"(name)..." Keigo softly spoke trying to get you to come back and away from your thoughts. "Are you still with me?' He asked.

"I can't believe that's how she truly felt about me." You mumbled.

He frowned not knowing how to comfort you in a way that eases the pain you were going through.

"Himiko is you sister I'm sure she will come around." He said as you leaned into his chest and burying your face in the crook of his neck. "It took her by surprise is all... she is worried about you."

"Himiko, was never there for me when I was in high school." you explained, "She never cared... and never will."

To think there was a reason why you didn't say anything else about your sister when he asked, now he knew why. Your parents and yourself were the opposite of how your sister was. He was even starting to question if you two were actually related to begin with.

There was nothing he could for you at the moment, so he stayed quietly by your side rubbing your back in circles, hoping to bring you comfort during this turmoil.

You were thankful he did not press on about the situation. Being in silence like this, helped you arranged your thoughts better. For someone who had a difficult time expressing their emotions, this was the best way to calm you down.

The warmth that radiated off of him brought you a sense of peace, he may not know how to fix a situation like this but he surely knew how to make you feel cared for.

After awhile Keigo offered to take you to your room and get some rest. You were emotionally exhausted, he knew that face so well himself. Slowly you followed him, his hold not breaking from you.

Gently he took off the pillows and top covers from your bed, giving you room to slide under the blankets.

"I'll go make you some tea." He said getting ready to leave when you stretched your hand out and caught his wrist, stopping him in place. "(name)?" Keigo turned his head to the left, looking at you.

Being who you are, you looked away feeling yourself turn red at your bold action. "D―don't go..." You pleaded, "Can you just... stay for awhile?"

A faint smile rested on his lips, "Sure."

Keigo tried his best to bury the rapid beating of his chest and re cheeks as he chose to focus on being there for you. It did not go without saying that he was slightly nervous being this close but if it meant you feeling better, how could he say no?

Once he made himself comfortable, he stretched his arms out, signaling for you to rest on top of his chest. Not caring for once, you went in, hugging his waist tightly feeling afraid of being alone. Your face buried in his chest, taking in his musky scent.

"Everything is going to be alright..." he cooed into your ear, rubbing your back. "I'm not going to let anything bad happen."

You weakly nodded, letting the tears silently fall down onto his stomach.

For once you were starting to act like a married couple, it did not quite feel so bad if this meant having someone like him to comfort and support you.

[mywritingonlyfans]

One Shot with Ethan Torchio // It's a bit Fluffly, Smut and Angsty

prompt: in which, ethan always need/visit you when he's not in tour + casual sex(?) with ethan tying you up so you don't touch him i'm telling you this but isn't a hardcore smut

warnings: it's smut. a fluffly kinda sexy(?)maybe it's just sexy bc it's ethan smut ig fem!reader

(he is so hot. i'm crying all my tears, and that's fucking pathetic.)

Your head hurt, you knew your face was probably red due to your desire to go home and cry, but yet, your friends convinced you to go out for a drink. According to them nothing was too bad that a beer couldn’t improve, you doubted it.

Somehow, you found yourself happy to have accepted.

You didn’t know Ethan was back in town, you briefly wondered why you didn’t know, since he always contacted you when he was near (or at least that was what it seemed to be). Still, you were glad to see him. He was always able to make things better, even if only for a short period of time; which in your case was very short one as he wasn’t yours to have.

Ethan complemented your friends, they were all too familiar to him. He hugged you, giving a small kiss to your head while sitting next to you. Suddenly, you felt like a stronger drink would do you good.

It wasn’t hard to tell what was going to happen in the next few hours, after a couple of years going through that, you knew the time you spent together would always be the same. You guessed that you were able to put his head in place, just as he did with yours; and that's why he always came back to you. You'd never be able to tell if it was luck or mischance.

“Was it too hard to find me?” You asked him.

By now, your friends had moved to another corner. “I mean, I’m not complaining, I’m glad you did.” You offered him a weak smile. He did the same.

He looked tired, yet deadly cute.

He shuffled his chair closer to yours, letting his leg touch your bare knee. “Not really, Victoria said she called you in the morning, then told me that you intended to visit here for the night,” he mumbled, signaling to the bartender that he needed a beer, and so did you.

“She’s a gossip,” you wrinkled your nose, causing him to provide offer you a nasal laugh that you had learned to find lovely over the years. “But what has been happenin’ in your life lately? You’re good?” You tried to sound casual, but deep down you knew he wasn’t there entirely for you. Something was bothering him, he was looking for someone to rest on.

“Pretty much the same,” he sighed heavily. He wasn’t tired just physically. “We finished the last album, I feel exhausted.”

He looked at you like a lost puppy, watching your face, analyzing if you were in the mood to listen to him, or even if you were okay with having him around. After all, he came to you out of nowhere.

He’d never make you uncomfortable around him, maybe he hadn't noticed that yet. “C’mon, let it all out. I haven’t seen you for too many months for you to deprive me of the details.”

“If I tell you,” he pondered, “ you’ll tell me why you have a runny nose to match your watery eyes?” He poked your cheek, dragging his fingers so he could put some strands of hair back in place.

His seat was now so close to you that you'd be able to rest your head on his shoulder if you wanted to without creating any bodily discomfort.

“I guess life just hasn’t been all that gentle with me lately.” You giggled at him. “I lost my job last week, the same life shit is goin’ on as usual, and when I finally managed to move to a decent place, I’ll now be actually going back to sharin' apartment with strangers, because, y’know, I can’t afford bein’ in there anymore.”

Ethan was quiet for a while, you needed him more than he needed you. Listening to you made him realize how his worries were nothing at all. He knew that you didn't mind sharing an apartment with someone, but the loss of perspective was always tough.

Without further thinking, he pulled you to himself, fluffing your hair and holding you tight in his grip. You didn’t cry, yet it was possible to read your emotions. It was little, but Ethan knew you.

You took your head off his chest while he still had his arm around your waist. Taking a deep breath, you stared at your laced fingers, feeling it slow down. “I guess it’s all happenin’ at the same time, I’m just not sure how to handle it at the moment,” he held your face in his hand, his mouth close to yours as he ran his fingertips over your chin, until his lips were on you.

He was soft and wet, he had the same taste you still had etched in your mind, at that moment it seemed to be all you needed. He let go slowly, distributing pecks on the corners of your mouth, letting his forehead rest against yours.

You two stayed like that for a few minutes and you could bet that anyone who passed by could see how much of a fool you were for him. You tried not to think about it too much, it was better to have little of him than to have nothing. “Ethan?”

“Huh?” He murmured with his eyes closed, giving your lips a tickling sensation.

“Kiss me more,” and then he did. Ethan was holding you in place while your hands intertwined around his neck. You played with the chain of his necklace, savoring the touch of his tongue on yours, focusing only on him while pulling at his hair to hear his soft moans.

It didn’t take long for the bartender to come get your attention. You laughed nervously against him, you were embarrassed because you didn’t even remember where you were, still Ethan seemed untouchable about it. He wasn’t one to be embarrassed over small things like that, at least not with you. The bartender was quite irritated with the two of you and just now you noticed that your drinks had arrived and hadn’t even been touched; he was rightly pissed.

Ethan stood up, lifting you up with him. You looked in your pockets for your money, but then Ethan said it was okay and that he’d pay. You would argue, yet any money left over would be welcome. You held both beers in hand as he paid, thanking the old lady for the service, still feeling your skin burning with embarrassment, and then headed outside to wait for Ethan.

“Are you drivin’?” He asked, laughing at your state of awkwardness.

You bumped into his shoulder slightly, laughing along with him. “I am not, I’m living nearby,” you whispered as he put his hand inside your skirt pocket, bringing you to his side for a walk. “In the apartment that soon won’t be mine… how ‘bout you?”

“Not drivin’, I thought about staying somewhere to spend the night.”

He was close to home, but not that close, it would take about 3 hours to get to where he lives; it seemed plausible that he wanted to stay. “Are you only here because of me?” You risked asking.

“Yeah,” he took his hand out of your pocket and ran it through his hair. “I didn’t think it‘d be a bad idea.”

There was a silence, but it was far from being uncomfortable. “You know you can stay with me.”

——————-

Considering that you were in the process of moving to another place your house was a bit of a mess. Ethan wouldn’t be bothered by that, somehow your instinct of wanting things always in place - aka Monica from Friends - made you wander around the space in an attempt to make Ethan at home.

“What ‘bout the new album?” You asked, dragging one of the boxes away from him. It wouldn’t even bother anyone, but the thought that it would be in the middle of the room while someone was at your house bothered you.

“I don’t really know, I feel anxious about releasin’ it. It’s not that I don’t want to release it or am afraid of doing so, far from that, it's just, I don’t know… ” His voice fell silent, lost in his thoughts.

You turned to him, wanting to ask him what he had said, after all, that didn’t sound like Ethan, you felt as his hands touched your hips, pulling you on his lap. “Y'know I don’t care about your mess, right? Just, please, stop walkin’ 'round the house dragging boxes.” He said with his face close to your neck, hugging you from behind. His warm breath was in contact with your soft skin, providing heat to your body. Well, there was a minimal percentage chance that you were trying to make the place look good for Ethan, just because he made you a little nervous.

“Okay, fine. I’m fine,” you exhaled, turning to face him. He was smiling with his eyes almost closing; he still looked tired, but at least you were improving his mood. “You know you’re good at what you do, Ethan. You shouldn’t worry 'bout those things.” You held on to his shoulders, breaking something that could turn out to be a pity silence.

He squeezed your thigh at the same time as he laughed humorlessly at your words. “I know that. I guess that this is the short time they gave us to finish the album – it was drivin’ me crazy. The album isn’t bad, not at all, it’s honestly very good. Dami did a incredible job, still if it weren’t for the time it could have been even better. That’s crazy how I’m still letting myself get stressed over this, don’t you think?” He vented, moving his hands up your skirt.

“I know it’ll be good, I can’t think of anything you did that ended up bad!” You ran your fingers over his covered shoulders, down to his chest, going to the first open button of his t-shirt. “But if it’s just stress I can help you.”

He lubed his lips, nodding assiduously, putting you properly on top of him. That way, you were stuck to his body, feeling the rough of his jeans along with the zipper against your underwear. You gulped as he held your face, sealing your lips with his. You were relieved he always guided you through that; the leading up part was way better when it came from him.

You unbuttoned the rest of his shirt in middle of sloppy kisses and grips. Running your hand over his belly, tracing your fingers to the back of his neck while moving your hips lightly. You lugged on his hair, pulling him away to catch your breath. You opened your eyes to find Ethan with a deep pink mouth and brown eyes more intense than normal, at that moment you could have sworn that he was the most beautiful thing you had ever laid eyes on. You spread his shirt to the sides, sensing your body getting hotter, when Ethan smirked at your rush, managing to hold both of your hands behind you; stopping you in place.

“No need to rush, we have plenty of time,” he clenched you in his hands. You arched your back, breathing heavily at each touch of his fingers on your wrists.

He ran his nose over your neck, placing kisses and bites on the way to your collarbone, leaving wet tracks that would later turn into dark marks.

Your legs ached from that position, the couch wasn’t the best, but feeling Ethan getting hard under you as you writhed yourself against him, made you want to stay there for as long as he wanted you to. It was crazy to think that at the beginning of the day you were sure that the rest of it would be a pure disaster, and now being spoiled by Ethan’s lips your worries seemed to fade away.

Temporary as that would be, you were determined to give him your all, making his and yours next hours one of the best escapes from both of you. Unnecessary to say that you were lost in your own mind by now, craving for having his strands in-between your fingers, wanting him tugged into you furiously, causing you to ache. Your mouth was ajar, your vision was just white dots as he played with your sensitive skin, driving you insane. Ethan paralyzed when his grip became too strong around your fists and you got louder than usual.

“D’you like that?” He did it again, but this time pushing your body backward. He kept his devilish grin on his face, watching you from top to bottom. You bit your lips, containing your noises to yourself. Such an angel in his eyes. “Up, babe. I need to see something.” He didn’t let you answer, not as if he needed to. You stood up in front of him, legs shaking with your head definitely not in the right place. “Undress.” He rested his elbows on his knees.

His face was serious, and you didn’t see any problem in obeying his voice, but perhaps, due to the lack of his body being glued to yours, you couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“Don’t act like you don’t like it when I tell you what to do,” He caught you by the hem of your underwear, helping to take it off while you got rid of your blouse. “Especially, when I just got you off my lap, almost unconscious 'cause of some kisses to your soft neck, pet.” He added, drawing circles on the inside of your thigh, smoothly going up to your center.

You felt your breath come to a halt. “You’re just too bossy.” You teased, confirming that your breathing was faulty.

He patted his nose over the damp stain of the fabric, placing a kiss there. “And you love it.” He pecked you a few more times, teasing you by running his fingers on the edges as putting the cloth to the side; never touching you where you needed him.

Almost involuntarily you took hold of his hair, bringing him closer to your core. And then, you understood his previous question, it wasn’t just about not being able to touch him, but also about the power he was having over you.

He cut his actions short and got up, hovering over you. “Tonight, you won’t be allowed to touch me, all right?!” He whispered, tossing your hair behind your ear.

That’d be comical in any other situation, yet with his body and eyes fixed on your frame you felt in his domain.

You nodded, diving into the way he pulled at the hair on the nape of your neck firmly so that you were looking at him. “Go on, babe,” He insisted on having the words he wanted.

“Yes, it’s all right, Ethan,” it was far from all right, you couldn’t do that. How could you go without touching, making a mess of his hair or marking your nails on his back?

“That’s my girl,” he praised you in between sighs.

He was excited while your face was overflowing with nervousness; not out of fear, but out of curiosity. He finished removing his shirt and indicated with his fingers for you to lie down on the couch.

You shut your eyes tight, with his voice echoing 'my girl’ in your mind, Ethan was lugging your wrists above your head as you did what he told you to do. He tied them with his shirt. “Is this hurtin’ you? Are you comfortable?” He tightened it in a knot.

Your head and elbows were on the arm of the couch, only your hands were unsupported. Although you weren’t uncomfortable, it was to be expected that pain would appear the next day; it’d be worth it. “No, it’s fine. I’m good.” You assured him as he knelt beside the couch, running his hands down your torso, making you squirm.

He went down to the hem of your underwear, taking it off with the help of your legs kicking the lace away. “Good then,” he warbled, pattering lines on your pubic hair. “Needy and in your proper place.”

“Bastard,” you swore through clenched teeth.

He grinned, admiring how your breast rose and fell in a quick but punctual rhythm while your hips fidgeted at his touch. You looked like a piece of art he had just created, swollen lips, filled in lovely marks on the collarbone. He found himself in need to concentrate on his breathing while watching you, to control his pulse as he reached his fingertips to your pussy.

“Ethan” you breathed out, forcing your fists. “Go on, please,”

With that, he held your hands, forcing them down and slid a finger inside you. Your lips opened in a sigh and he took the opportunity to kiss you, running his tongue over your bottom lip and nipping it to his mouth, keeping things on a slow pace.

You wanted to hold his hand, make him go faster or be able to pull the locks of his hair until he understood how much you wanted him, but you had no way of doing that, and you knew he was just doing that to provoke you.

His lips traveled over your neck again, this time giving light kisses, blowing air on the soft fresh he had left in there.

“You’re so gorgeous,” he said without even opening his eyes, delighting in your skin as he sped up, now rubbing his thumb gently over your bud.

You whispered something almost inaudible that Ethan recognized as his name. He raised his head, coming face a face to you. “Right there, huh?” He asked, focusing on the spot that was blurring your vision.

You groaned. The satisfying delight running through your veins. You closed your legs, wishing you could hold on to his body, but all he did was laugh, shoving his fingers leisurely into you.

“No, no Ethan,” you looked at him properly, thinking that if you hadn’t been with your wrists tied you’d have slapped his chest.

He wiped his hand on your thigh, and stood up slipping his jeans down his legs along with his underwear. You sighed at him, stretching your arms, staring at the ceiling to disguise yourself. Not that it was necessary, Ethan was already too much of a show-off when it came to you for your liking.

“You good? How’s your arms?” He doubted, getting on top of you.

He had his hair damp, falling over the spots on his forehead. Some of his locks was glued to his chest and his golden pendant dangled in front of your eyes. For a split second, you though about saying that you missed him, but you were wise enough to know better than doing such a thing.

“If I say that I’m not good. Are you goin’ to untie me?”

He pressed his chest to yours, your body sticking to his since you were both sweaty.

“Not even a chance,” He stroked your neck with his thumb, up and down, with a silly look on his face.

You grunted as soon as you felt how solid hard he was against your thigh, he aligned himself in-between your knees, holding on to your shoulders, and without hesitation he filled you up. Your body tingled and your voice failed, causing a silent moan to slip from your lips. His head fell over the crook of your neck and you could feel how dysrhythmic his breathing was. His warm body along with his breath hitting on your neck added a pleasant feeling in your stomach, leaving you dizzy under him.

“Move Ethan,” you tried to sound understandable, embracing his waist with your legs.

He thrusted deeply in you, leaving a breathed sigh of relief in your ears. You stretched out your arms, tightening your thighs around him. He held the shirt in your hands, preventing it from coming loose.

“No, I wanna touch you,” you whined.

“You will, just be patient, babe,” he squeezed your wrists in his hand.

Closing your eyes, you enjoyed the way his body was over yours, every movement and every delicate touch.

He went slowly at first, making sure you were taking all of him before going faster. Once he felt your walls clenching around him, he murmured a breathless 'fuck’, letting go of your hands so that you could finally feel him. You dug your nails into his back, kneading your body against his at the same time as he hugged you.

As you opened your eyes, he was already looking at you, with an intense gaze, building you up to feel sexy and wanted.

Both of you were a mess; sweaty and sticky. You felt a tingling ecstasy take all over your body, your toes twitching as you emptied yourself into him. He kept working on you until his body collapsed into yours, filling you up to perfection.

The last thing you remembered was having your fingers entwined in his hair, patting at it slightly as he whispered sweet nothing against your skin; just like a lullaby.

———–-------

You woke up to the noise of the television, trying to adjust your vision to the brightness of the daylight. Failing to stretch, you felt how sore your body was.

Your eyes searched for Ethan, finding him sitting opposite to you with a lazy smile and a cup of tea in hands, his attention was all on you. Friends was playing on the television, but you doubted he was really watching it.

“Good mornin’ babe,” his husky voice echoed through the room. It was the best thing to hear in the morning. “How’s it? Hurtin’?” He asked when you started examining your marked wrists.

He was fully dressed and although you weren’t, he had managed to get a sheet to cover you.

“Good mornin’. It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt,” you mumbled, scratching your eyes, curling up on the sheet. “How long will you be stayin’ in town?”

“Not long,” he paused thoughtfully. You already expected that he wouldn’t be with you for long, still sometimes you liked to think that it’d last longer than just a few days before he disappeared to another continent. “I need to go home in a few minutes, I’m going to take a flight at night to adjust the final details of the album.”

“Sounds nice,” you wanted to have the courage to tell him how he made things in your life look just right, as if he were some kind of piece missing from your puzzle. “I can’t wait to hear it, hear what your great fingers are capable of.” You ignored your thoughts. He laughed.

However, you truly believed that not saying anything was a wise move.

He lifted a cup from one of the boxes next to him, holding it out to you. “I made one for you too, I hope you don’t mind.”

You didn’t mind it, in fact, you loved the way he made himself at home so quickly. The home that soon wouldn’t be yours anymore. You wished Ethan could remedy your worries for more than just one night.

“Thank you,” you took the still warm drink in your hands, looking at him as if he were part of your decor. “You can smoke in here, I don’t mind that either,” you spoke up. You couldn’t even imagine that he’d have gone without lighting a cigarette all morning.

“The place is all clean, and smells nice. I bet you never lit one yourself, I wouldn’t do that.” He was right.

“Well, y'know that I don’t care about the smell, I just don’t see the need to leave the house impregnated with it.” You explained, remembering that Ethan’s house was a perfect description of that smell, yet you loved his place.

“I know this is going to sound strange,” he started. “But if you can’t find a place in time to live in… you can stay at mine, I mean, you know I am never home and as I’ll be travelin’ you could make yourself at home.”

He said it casually, and you knew he wasn’t lying, if you wanted to he wouldn't even think twice about letting you stay at his.

“No need, I’ll be fine. I do appreciate it though.” you took a sip of your now cold drink.

He bobbed, checking what you thought could be the time on his phone.

“You have to go, I guess?” You asked, your soft voice revealing you didn’t want that.

“I need to,” he gave you a small smile, getting up. “It’s gettin’ a bit late for me.”

“I see,” you went to him, adjusting the sheet on your body, feeling ridiculous for still being undressed. “I guess I’ll see you, right?” You added it while he picked up your stuff on the couch; keys, wallet and the pack of cigarettes. There was no answer for your question.

“Yeah,” he breathed out, heading to the door. “You could come and visit, spend a few days with us. It’d be nice.”

“On tour? Like a groupie?” You wrinkled your nose. His arms wrapping around you. You’d miss it.

He squeezed you into his chest, his tiny beard tickling your cheek. “You know you are much more than just a groupie for me, Y/N.”

You didn’t answer that. He pulled away and for a second you thought he was going to kiss you, but he didn’t.

“See ya Y/N,” instead, he kissed the top of your head. “Think about it, both about comin’ to visit and also about needing a place to stay for a while.”

“I’m sure I will, thank you Ethan,” you watched him, from his rumpled shirt to dark circles under his eyes. He’d always have a special space in your heart. “I guess I’ll see ya then.”

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<

taglist ( 'cause someone actually wanted to be tagged, i didn't even force anyone😁): @maybanksslut , @oro-e-diamanti

[tommydarlings]

I Can't Help Falling In Love With You | t.h

A/N: Okay, wow. Tbh, I'm really proud of this and I hope you like it as much as I do! :) (when this flops, then I'm gonna slide down the suislide :D) anyway, enjoy! :) ily,liz <3

pairing: mob!tom x mob!reader

warnings: smut (fem + male receiving) swearing, unprotected sex, daddy-kink, blowjob, choking, violent actions

w/c: 5.1k (omg)

Requests: CLOSED

Summary: The leader of the London Mafia is the devil in person and you would do everything you can to end him, wouldn't you?

masterlist || taglist || requests ( in my masterlist)

"I'm not gonna talk to him father!" I yelled at my dad.

"Why?! It's strictly about business anyway!" he yelled back at me. "I'm sorry father, but I'm not gonna talk to the devil in disguise" i said in a slightly calmer voice. "It's just for a few minutes and it's strictly about the mob, okay? He won't hurt you or something" my dad answerd. After a while of thinking about it, I agreed.

"Just for a few minutes and not more" i said quietly.

"yes, thank you y/n" i just nodded with my head before I made my way into the huge conference room where the devil should be.

I hate this man. I could kill him. The problem is… he could kill me too… in seconds.

Thomas Stanley motherfucking Holland.

And now I should go to him and try to make a deal with him, that's gonna be fun. Probably we can't even start to talk about the deal because we're just gonna argue. Like usual.

I opened the door and didn't even looked up to look if he was here yet-

"Well hello darling"

Fuck.

"Hello Thomas" I said with a fake smile.

"I already told that you can call me Tom babygirl" he said.

"And I already told you that you should stop calling me these nicknames because I don't like them" I told him. "Well guess what baby, I don't give a single shit about it" he said with a wide smile.

I just scoffed and shook my head before I sat down on one of the chairs in the room. Tom sat down on the chair at the exact opposite of me.

"So, let's talk about the deal, okay?"

"Okay" Tom nodded.

---

1 week later, after we finally finished the deal, I could relax and went into the library in our mansion. Most of the time I don't even have time to read, but when I got time then I use it and read a few pages of my favorite books. It's something that kinda brings me back into the real world and calms me down quickly. So I don't want to get disturbed.

But of course something- no, someone had to disturb me.

"Hello darling" thomas said as he entered the library with both of his hands in the pockets of his black coat.

"What do you want Holland" I spat back angrily.

"Honestly? You"

I was frozen for a second. It's not that I like him or anything, like i already said, I absolutely hate this man, but he is attractive, i can't deny that. No women can deny that.

"Cat caught your tongue babydoll?" he whispered quietly in my ear from behind. Of course I had to stay infront of the bookshelf with my back to him right now.

"Hmm?" he said in my ear again while I was still pretty frozen.

"get the fuck out of my way Tom" I said with a slightly nervous voice. Suddenly he put both of his arms on my shoulders and slowly traced his fingertips down my arms. I literally started to shiver as he said that,

"pretty little thing" he whisper right in my ear and left a gently peck on the side of my neck. Then he put both of his hands in mine and slowly rubbed this thumb over my hand.

And I let him. I fucking let him.

"I know that you like it baby, I know it" he whispered in the back of my neck before he started to leave kisses at the side of my neck. He was so gentle and soft. His lips were so warm and they felt so fucking good, wait what-

"Okay, stop" I said as I turned around and pushed him away.

"That's sad, it looked like you really enjoyed it darling" he said while he slowly approached me again. As he took the first step forward, I took one backwards but then I remembered that my back is already against the shelf.

Well fuck.

As he stood infront of me, he put both of his hands next to my head and leaned really close. Our noses were nearly touching.

"You don't have to lie to me princess, you know? And when you really wanna test me, then I dare you to do that, we both know that I'm gonna win babydoll" he whispered quietly while he looked me deep in the eyes.

"You may be a Holland, but don't forget that I'm a y/l/n honey" I told him while I held eye contact.

"Cause you exactly know what I'm capable of, you already saw me fighting and taking your men down easily" I added.

"And you exactly know what I'm capable of babygirl"

"Oh please, you are just as weak as your men are Holland" I said with a quick laugh.

"I'm not talking about fighting love" he said with a tiny smirk.

"About what then champ?" I said with a little smile on my face.

"You know what I'm the best at?" he said as he slowly leaned closer so his mouth was hovering over my ear.

"What" I asked before I rolled my eyes.

"Punishments" he whispered.

And as soon as he said that my smile faded and I was frozen… again.

"I knew you would be quiet as soon as I said that. Have you ever got punished before? You know like, did you ever got a few good spanks and a few edges-"

"shut up Thomas" I spat quietly at him.

"You get turned on from the thought of me spanking you and edging you until you beg me to stop, don't you?"

"I-I, n-no i-I don't" I stuttered.

"Don't lie to me princess" he said while he looked me in my eyes again.

"I don't" I said while I looked down at my feet. "Can you say that while you look me in the eyes?" he asked.

I looked him in the eyes, but I couldn't get a single word out.

"That's what I thought" he said before he put both of his hands back in his pockets again and went to the door.

"Where a-are you g-going?" Why did I asked that?!

"I'm gonna go back to work, if you need someone that makes you scream and cry at same time, and I don't mean that in a painful way, then you know where I am" he said before he opened the door and left.

"God please help me" I quietly prayed before I left the library too and went to the gym.

---

"Tom, let me through" I said in a pretty calm voice.

"No" he answered with a tiny smirk.

"Thomas please! I have to be in the meeting like, right now!" I raised my voice at him.

"And?" he asked while he looked down at me. Sadly I'm shorter than him. "And?! When my dad finds out that you are keeping me up here then you. are. dead, holland." he lightly chuckled before he spoke up,

"That would be a shame wouldn't it?" he said with a wide grin while slowly raced his hand and stroked my cheek with his knuckles. "Tom stop" I told him angrily. "You are so sweet when you're angry, you know?"

"Fuck. off" I whispered while I looked him deep in the eyes. That was the last thing i said to him before I pushed him angrily away and stormed through the door.

"Where the fuck where you y/n?" my dad asked with a slightly aggressive voice. I didn't knew which kind of lie I should tell him, so I told him the truth.

"Tom distracted me" I said while I took a seat. "Tom Holland?" he said while he looked at me. "Of course the holland boy dad, who else?" I spat. "Not in that tone young lady" he spat back angrily before he sat down in his own chair and scoffed before he started to talk about some mob business shit while I held back my tears.

It's not that I hate this life, or the mob, it's just that I would love when someone would give me some love.

---

"Thomas, I already told you that it was a mistake" I yelled at him. "But this mistake could have killed you" he yelled back at me. I looked him deep in the eyes before I quietly said,

"Why do you even care?"

He just stared at me with an open mouth and slightly wide eyes. He looked at me like he just got caught stealing something. "I-I don't care about you or anything, i-i could have been dead too, a-and w-when you would have been i-in trouble, t-then I wouldn't have hesitate to save MY ass"

Slowly, a smile made it's way to my face before I spoke up again,

"You're lying" I whispered.

"I d-don't lie'' he said quietly. "You do, because every time when you lie, you stutter thomas" he slowly approached me. Probably a habit of him. As he stood right infront of me, he looked me right into the eyes. He basically looked me right into the soul before he said,

"I didn't lied and I don't care about you. When you would get killed, then I would stand next to your corpse and would be sad that I didn't killed you" he slowly said.

And as he said that, I just thought one thing,

Don't fucking cry now y/n, you already know that nobody loves you.

I exactly knew that he hates me, just like I hate him, but I would have never said something that cruel to him. But of course I couldn't stop the tears they were threatening to spill. I looked down at my feet before I quickly wiped the tear away.

"Are you cryi-"

"I hate you" I said before he could finish his sentence. The last thing I saw before I stormed out of the big conference room, was a guilty look painted on Tom's face.

---

I sat silently in my bedroom and thought about a few things,

'I can't', 'I can't fucking like him', 'I can't fucking love him', 'It's impossible'. I thought the entire time. We are enemies since the second we saw each other. We hate each other. We have to, we don't have another option. Why am I even thinking about that? He hates me and I should hate him. But I can't. It's not that I adore this man and would do anything for him, I would just sacrifice my life for him-

Fuck.

I'm head over heels for him.

Suddenly someone knocked on my door.

"Come in" I said. Suddenly Tom came in, wearing a tight white button up shirt and dark blue dress pants. He looked so unbelievably hot but at the same time he was my enemy. I thought about his messy hair and rosy cheeks and red lips, they look so fucking soft, I would love to kiss them and touch his body-

"You good y/n?" he asked as he sat down next to me on the bed. And of course he had to spread his legs and fold his hands.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine" I answered quickly. God I'm so done.

"I wanted to apologize for what I said earlier, so… I'm sorry"

Did he just seriously apologized? Wow.

"It's okay, you were right" I said with a tiny but sad laugh. "You were right" he suddenly said. "What do you mean?" I said while I looked at him. Tom got up and stood now infront me.

"I do care about you"

"What?"

"You were right, I lied. I really care about y/n, and I'm sorry that I treated you that way"

"Seriously?" I got up now too and stood right infront of him. He just nodded quickly before he said,

"yes, uhm, that's it, I'm gonna go now, by dollface" he said with a tiny smirk before he left the room.

"fuck off" I laughed while I made my way downstairs.

---

"I hate work" I quietly whispered to myself while I buried my head in my hands desperately. Suddenly the door opened and Tom walked in. "Get out of here" he said without any sign of kindness. "What?" I asked with a laugh. "I think you heard me princess, out. of. here" I stood up from my chair and scoffed before I walked over to him.

"No" I said with a tiny grin.

"No?, darling I'm in charge here, okay?, so you're gonna walk out of this room and let me do my work that I have to do, alright?" he said pretty seriously. I shaked my head with a smile painted on my face. "I don't wanna drag out of the room y/n, c'mon" he said with a hint of anger in his voice but I shaked my head and he scoffed. "Why can't you just listen for once." Out of nowhere he grabbed my throat and pressed me against the wall behind me. "You're gonna listen to me" he whispered before he went on,

"When I tell you to do something, then your gonna do it, don't you?" he asked while he looked at me. That went right to my pussy.

"And what are you gonna do when I don't want to do what you say?" of course y/n y/l/n tried to push his buttons. "Then it's gonna get a big big mess babygirl" he smiled. He fucking smiled.

"A bloody mess?" I asked with a grin. "No, no, not a bloody mess but a wet mess" he whispered.

"fuck you" I whispered. "oh yes, I'm gonna do that" he said before he crashed his lips on mine harshly. He put both of his hands on my cheeks while I opened his button up shirt and pulled it off of his body. Just a few seconds later he pulled my shirt off and threw it to the side. "You're eager, aren't you?" I asked while he put his pants off. God his body is a masterpiece.

"Shut up" he said while I put my pants and bra off. "Make me" I said. He looked me in the eyes with a tiny smirk before he picked me up and laid me down onto the table. He went down on his knees infront of me and pulled my panties down my legs before he started to give tiny kitten licks to my already wet pussy.

"Fuuuuck" I whispered before he started to really eat me out. "Fuck daddy" I cried out. "Say that again" Tom said before he sucked on my clit and flicked his tongue over it afterwards. "Oh my God, please daddy" I cried out even louder. He flicked my clit with the tip of his tongue so fast and good that I came quickly.

"FUCK, your gonna make me cum" I said quietly while I arched my back. But after he made me cum, he didn't stopped. He went on with flicking the tip of his tongue quickly over my sensitive clit. I started to wiggle away from him but he grabbed my legs and put me back in place again. "Shh, just a little bit more" he whispered. Suddenly he spit right on my pussy and collected the spit with two fingers before he shoved his wet fingers into my pussy. "Oh my g-god, please" I stuttered out.

He started to pump his finger faster and faster and after a few seconds he found the spot that made me go crazy. "Ahhh fuck daddy please, please, please" I screamed.

"Come for me doll, come for daddy" he said while he looked me in the eyes. You heard right. He looked me in the eyes while he ate. me. out.

"FUCK" I yelled as I came for the second time on his tongue and fingers. After he cleaned me up, he stood up and looked at me.

"You're gonna be a good girl and take my cock?" he asked. "Yes Daddy" I answered back quietly. "Good girl" he whispered in my ear before he pulled his boxer down and started to enter me. "oh fuck" I quickly cursed before he started to ram into me mercilessly.

"So fucking tight, such a good girl, just for me, right?" I just nodded with my head before my eyes rolled into the back of my head quickly. Suddenly he put his hand on my throat again and lightly choked me. And fuck was that good.

"Feels so good d-daddy" I whispered. He put the thumb of his other hand on my clit and started to rub it quickly.

"OH MY GOD" I cried out really loud. "Take it, take it, take it" tom spat quietly. "I'm gonna cum daddy" I told him. He went even faster, with his cock and his thumb. And then my orgasm washed me while I screamed as loud as I could while tears were running down my cheeks.Tom shut his eyes tightly and let out a tiny 'fuck' after he came. But I couldn't even notice more before I blacked out.

---

I woke up in my bed, but I could remember exactly what happened yesterday in the conference room. The worst thing is, I still like, no, love this man. How? I honestly don't know. He just makes me… weak.

I threw my work clothes on and went downstairs into the conference room to see if my father was there but the only person that was in the room was the one and only Tom of course.

"Oh, hello darling" he said politely.

"Hello?" I said but it kinda sounded more like a question. "Are you okay?" he asked me. I just nodded with my head before I made my way to the door again but Tom's hand on my wrist stopped me immediately. "Can we talk?" he suddenly said pretty shy. I just nodded again while I turned around to face him and leaned back against the door. "What's up" I said. What the fuck y/n?! Why would you say 'what's up'? You exactly know what happened yesterday and you can't change it. Neither of you can. What you two didn't knew is that neither of you too wanted to change it.

"Can we maybe talk about last night?" he suddenly said. "Yeah, yeah of course, what about last night?" I asked quietly. "I-I, fuck, I don't know how to say that-" but before he could finish his sentence, I interrupted him,

"You think it was a mistake and you asked me to forget it and to not mention it ever again because you hate me and that was just a stupid one night stand thing for you" I told him. He just stared at me for multiple seconds before he opened his mouth and spoke up,

"No"

"What do you mean with 'no'?"

"y/n, I know how I treated you and how rude and cruel I am to you, but that what we did last night wasn't a damn one night stand" he said calmly. "What was it then to you?" I asked him.

"What was it to you?" he asked me back. I had to swallow before I answered,

"I don't think that it meant the same to you as it meant to me" I said quietly while I looked at him. He let out a tiny laugh before he said,

"It meant a lot to me" hold on what did he just said?!

"What, s-seriously?" I asked with already glassy eyes. I just dreamed right?

"Y/n, when I told you that I would save my ass and that I would be happy when you would be dead, then I didn't meant that at all. I care about you, a lot actually and I would rather sacrifice my ass to save yours" he said with a tiny laugh.

I slowly approached him and asked,

"You are not lying?"

"I'm not lying"

As soon as he said I leaned forward gave him a tiny peck to test if he really wants that, and yes he does, he leaned forward and kissed me properly on the lips while he put of his hands softly on my waist and I put my hands on his shoulders. He slowly started to walk forward so that i had to walk backwards and backed me up against the wall, at first I thought that we are gonna the same thing like last night but he just put one of his hands on my cheek and looked me deep in the eyes.

"I really like you y/n"

"I really like you too"

He kissed my forehead gently before we went on with our little make out session.

---

"Tom, no!" I yelled at him. "Why not?!" he yelled back loudly. "Because, when my dad is gonna catch us in the conference room then we are both dead and you know that!" I screamed at my boyfriend.

Tom wanted to make out in the conference room, that my father is probably gonna enter soon. "Who gives a fuck about him" he yelled back at me. "Tom, how do you think my dad will look at us when he sees us not sliding each other's throats!, What do you think is he gonna do huh?!"

"But we are together y/n, we are in a relationship and we are fucking adults so we are allowed to do that! We love each other!"

"In this world is no place for love Thomas!"

Silent.

I instantly regret what I said. I looked at him and I could already see tears building up in his eyes.

"So you don't love me?" he asked quietly and unsure. "No! That not what I meant. Tom, it's just that this world wasn't made for love, okay? I know that we love each other, you love me and I love you, so so so much tommy but this world that we are living in is dangerous, okay?" I told him before I slowly approached him. I put my hands in his hands and gave him a small but gentle peck on the cheek.

"I love you" I whispered.

"I l-love you too darling" he said quietly.

"I'm so sorry for what I said, I hope you forgive me" I said while I laid my head on his chest. He is always so warm and caring and gentle with me.

"Yeah baby, I forgive you" he said with a tiny smile on his gorgeous face. "Thank you" I answered before I pecked his nose. "I'm gonna take a shower" I said quietly while I looked him deep in the eyes. "Mind if I join?" he asked with a smirk. "Not at all… " I slowly leaned forward to whisper in his ear and said,

"daddy"

Before I could even blink, he threw me over the shoulder and made his way to the bathroom.

---

"Fuuuuck babygirl, you take me so well" he whispered while I tried to take his entire member in my mouth. And fuck was that hard because he was so big. Suddenly he started to thrust his hips and I gagged loudly. "You can take it kitten, I know you can" he spat quitely. Tears were rolling down my cheeks as I gagged around him, but It was so fucking hot and rough Tom is the best thing you can get. "Fuck, I'm gonna cum, I'm gonna cum" he said while he shut his eyes. After he came, I swallowed everything and then I stood up and we got out of the shower. He grabbed the back of my neck tightly and turned me around. Our noses touched while he looked me deep in the eyes. "You're mine, understand?" I nodded with my head quickly before he spoke up again,

"That was a great shower don't you thing doll" he said with a huge grin on his face after he let my neck go slowly. I just rolled my eyes before I started to dry my body with my towel. But before I could take my brush to brush through my hair and get the knots out, tom took the brush from my hand and started to gently brush my hair while he stood behind me just in a Calvin klein boxer and grey sweatpants. He gently brushed through them while I watched him in the mirror infront of me. "Mhhmm" I moaned with a tiny smile written on my face. "Don't moan or I'm gonna take you right against the counter princess" he slowly whispered into my ear while he still brushed gently through my hair. "sorry… daddy" he just scoffed before he gave me the 'warning gaze'. I started to laugh and he put the brush aside to grab the lotion. "Are you laughing at me?" he asked with 'fake shook' on his face. "Sorry bubu, your just so sweet" I said between laughter. "You're even sweeter my love" he answered as he applied some lotion on my back and slowly rubbed it in. "That feels good baby, thank you" I said. "No, thank you" he told me while he looked in the mirror where our eyes met. "For what?" I asked with a tiny smile. "For being the best girlfriend ever" he whispered before he gave me a small peck on my temple. I smile before I answerd,

"I love you so damn much Tommy" he rubbed his hands slowly over my shoulders before he spoke up,

"I love you too princess" I used to hate this name, but now I love it.

---

I sat in my room, crying silently on my bed all alone. To have a dad that is just focused on the mob and basically didn't gives a single shit about his own daughter Is hard and it fucking hurts. But luckily i got a caring boyfriend that should be here any minute-

"Hey babygirl, what's wrong?" he asked as he came into the bedroom. "Is it your dad again?" he added after a while. I just nodded with my head before I started to let more sob's out. "No, no, no, you know that I don't like it when you cry princess" he said as he sat down next to me and pulled me into his chest. He hold me tightly in his arms before I spoke up,

"I'm s-sorry" he just looked at me before he said,

"For what?" I looked at him briefly before I looked down at my lap again. "For i-interrupting you t-tommy"

"No, no, there's nothing to be sorry about, okay? I love you and I'm gonna be here for you, you understand?" I nodded with my head quickly before I looked him deep in the eyes. Suddenly he pulled me on his lap so that I straddled him and laid both of his hands on my hips. We both looked at each other's lips briefly before I slowly leaned in and captured his soft lips in a gentle kiss. "I" kiss. "love" kiss. "you" kiss. "so" kiss. "much" kiss. I laughed at him before I kissed his forehead gently and said,

"I love you too so much"

"Can we cuddle?" I added. Tom laughed before he answered,

"Of course darling, anything for you"

I laid down while Tom laid behind me and he threw his hand around me and pulled me into him. "Good night Tommy" I whispered. "Good night baby" he whispered back before we both fell into a deep but wonderful sleep.

---

It was the worst day of your life. Tom was kneeling on the ground, I stood behind him and my father stood infront of us with his gun pointed at me while I had my gun against Tom's temple. Yes, you heard right. Tom's fucking temple.

"Kill him y/n, prove your father that you are strong enough to lead the mob, just like me princessa" my father told me while tears started to build up in my eyes. My father found out about Tom's and my relationship. He went crazy, he freaked out and yelled at us and went absolutely mad. I saw a lot sides from my father already, but not this one. And it kinda made me shit my pants. He demanded me to shoot Thomas so I could prove to him that Tom would be a bad influence for me and the mob. The things is that I would rather die that kill my own fucking boyfriend. Only problem, my father doesn't care.

"You k-know that i-i can't father" I whispered while tears were rolling down my cheeks. "Just do it y/n, it's okay, we had a great time didn't we?" Tom slightly laughed but then I could hear him sob. My father just laughed before he spoke up,

"That's no love that you little kids have, that's just some random bullshit, shoot him" he answered with a laugh. Tom swallowed and I couldn't stop the tears. We both couldn't. "I love you princess, so much" Tom whispered quietly. I just shaked my head while I let sob's out and looked at my dad again. "I don't give a-a fuck a-about the m-mob anymore, I love t-Tom and when you c-can't accept t-that then I'm really sorry" I quietly said. My dad laughed before he said,

"Wait, what do you mean with 'then I'm really sorry' y/n?" he asked.

"I love Thomas, and I fucking hate you" I said before I shot my father in his right shoulder. Tom closed his eyes tightly but when I put both of my hands in his cheeks he opened them again. "Are you okay?" Tom asked me quickly. I nodded with my head before I hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry baby" I shaked my head quickly and answered,

"No, I'm sorry"

"No, you shouldn't be, I'm supposed to protect you, to protect you from situations like that doll, but I didn't and I'm so sorry" he said quietly. "It's okay Tommy, I love you" "I love you too" he said before we shared a loving kiss. After that, Tom and i got up and went to my father who was laying desperately on the ground.

"Fuck you daddy" I told him.

"Why p-princess, w-why" he weakly asked. Before I could response, Tom spoke up,

"By the way, your daughter calls me daddy too" he said with a wink. And those were the last words my father heard. The best last words even in my opinion. I laughed at my boyfriend before he picked me up and ran towards the bedroom.

"What are you doing?" I asked between laughter. "Oh, I'm just gonna make you beg, scream and cry, okay?" he asked. And as soon as I heard these words I was screwed.

"Yes daddy"

"Good girl"

-`ღ´- ᶫᵒᵛᵉᵧₒᵤ -`ღ´-

Taglist:

@goodgirlgonetom @majo240820 @misshale21 @itstaskeen @pure-ghost @justafangirlduh @elizabeth-brown @roseke @onyourgoddamnleft @lovelyxtom

[scuttle-buttle]

What's One More?

WC: 3204

Rated: M

Tags: brief mentions of crime/mental illness/child abuse and neglect/substance addiction/theft, fluff, family dynamics, mentions of aging, mentions of difficult pregnancy, softness, anxiety attack

🧠

The harsh vibrating of a phone on the nightstand breaks your slumber. Still half asleep you toss your arm back to thump against your sleeping husband's side. With a groan he answers. You try to settle back into your pillow and the warmth of the blanket. Whoever has the balls to call at this hour has another thing coming - but later because your priority is going back to sleep.

He can't have been on the call more than fifteen seconds before he sits up in bed suddenly, turning on the bedside lamp; his movements grab your attention. You roll over. The light blinds you and you rub at your eyes to adjust. You can't make out what's being said. Looking at the clock to see that it's barely 4 am you know something bad has happened. Quietly you slip out from the covers.

Making your way down the hall you peek into your daughter's room, grateful that she's still fast asleep. Her soft snores punctuate the calm. Your nerves abate knowing she’s safe. By the time you get back to the bedroom Laszlo is up and getting dressed. "What's going on?"

He doesn't answer at first. You wait until he's finished buttoning his shirt to ask again. "Sara was called to consult on a triple homicide case - she's asked for me to come down to the police station. I don't know much yet, but it's something involving a young boy and she wants me to speak with him."

“Did he…?”

“No. He was not directly involved, that much we know.”

You nod, leaning against the door frame. This wasn't the first time that Laszlo had been called in by law enforcement and social services to assist with children and teens that needed psychological help. He had become more active around the time you graduated with your doctorate. After Sophia was born Laszlo helped fund an after school program for kids that focused on support for mental health and behavioral issues. He was so passionate about being able to help these kids. But it was never at this ungodly hour. "You'll call or something when you know what's up?" you ask through a yawn.

"Of course, Bärchen." He gives you a chaste peck. Gently he guides you back towards your bed and sits you down. "Go back to sleep, there's no need to worry. I love you." With that he left.

Your sleep is fitful with him gone. You worry over things that you aren't even aware of, over who is hurt, over how severe a situation it could be to have been called in the middle of the night, over the poor boy that needs Laszlo’s help. When your daughter tiptoes into the room around 6 you welcome her into the bed with open arms.

"Why are you up, baby bug?"

"Where's Papa?" She climbs up on his side of the bed and rubs his cold pillow. On her face is a deep frown.

"He had to go help some very important people early this morning. He'll be back to see you soon, I promise."

"I miss him. He always helps me with my shoes."

You can't help the smile that crosses your face. "I know, baby. But it's still early so let's take a nap before we have to get ready, hmm?" The two of you snuggle under the covers. With her curled into your side you do find rest, even for the short time before your alarm chimes.

The day moves sluggish as you wait for word from your husband. Little work was to be done today at the museum, so there wasn't much to keep your mind off the wondering. You considered calling. You considered texting. But you knew that when the time was right he would let you know. No news is good news, you think.

Finally the day came to a close. You picked up Sophia and stopped by the store on the way home to grab supplies for dinner. She insisted that she carry one of the bags inside - little miss independent that she was. “Careful not to drop it, okay? Use those muscles of yours to hold the bag tight.”

“Mama I know, I help Papa carry all the time,” she explains matter-of-factly.

The townhouse is quiet as you begin to unpack. You do a quick glance into the dining room and parlor to no avail. "Laz, honey? You home?" A few seconds later you hear movement from the stairs.

Your husband rounds the corner into the kitchen, swooping down to scoop your daughter into his left arm, peppering her face in exaggerated smooches. Her giggles light up the room from the dim atmosphere. He perches her on his hip. “How was your day my little dove?”

“So good Papa - I practiced my counting today at school. I can get the biggest in the class! Mommy said I must be the most smartest," she prattles on.

“Wunderbar!” he praises her before turning to you. “I didn't hear you come in." Laszlo kisses you.

Pinning him with a look you say "you also didn't call me today? You said you would and I've been worried all day."

Sophia crosses her arms and harrumphs from her father's hip; "me too Papa." He quirks an eyebrow at her before speaking.

"Yes… there is something I wished to speak with you on but didn't think it was suitable for the phone." You raise your own brows but continue to put away groceries. "I do not wish to discuss certain aspects of the case in present company-" he nods towards Sophia minutely "-but we do have a houseguest for the foreseeable future."

"Oh?" Your brows dip in confusion. This is not what you were expecting.

Laszlo peeks around the doorway and calls out "Stevie, would you come join us in the kitchen please."

Stevie? You don't know a Stevie...

A moment later a lanky boy with scruffy dark blond hair shuffles into the room. He can't be anymore than 15. His clothes are too big on him and his shoes are worn beyond belief; nevertheless he gives you a slight smile. “This is Stevie Taggert, he’s going to be staying here with us in the guest room for now.”

“Good evening Mrs. Kreizler,” the boy says nervously, his voice cracking.

You spare a look at your husband before turning to the teenager with a smile. “Ah, no need for that, kid. You can just call me by my name instead. And welcome to our home. You like spaghetti?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Awesome! And I’m certainly not old enough to be a ma’am,” you give him a wink. You set up a pot to boil the water for the pasta. Laszlo excused himself to spend some time with Sophia, leaving you and Stevie in the kitchen.

He clears his throat behind you. “Would um… is there anything I can do to help?”

"I would love that, thank you."

The two of you get to work on making dinner. Stevie doesn’t say too much, but he is very polite and does his best to be useful. Once the food is nearly finished your family has returned ready to eat. You send Stevie and Sophia to set the table.

“Should I be worried?” you ask Laszlo quietly, watching the doorway the two left through.

“I don’t think so. I just felt that I would rather he have a familiar face to adjust with instead of being placed in a group home like many end up.”

You study his face. “You’ve taken a liking to him haven’t you?”

“Well…" his face reddens at your question. "He reminds me a bit of myself when I was his age.” The conversation is cut short by the kids returning.

The rest of dinner and the evening goes smoothly. You make it a point to not bring up any questions that could trigger the teenager, especially before you’ve spoken with Laszlo about the situation at hand. When Stevie nearly eats his weight in pasta you say nothing, wondering how long it's been since he's had a good home cooked meal. He insists on helping clean up the dishes afterwards. Without even knowing what the boy has gone through your heart aches for him.

You set him up in the small renovated basement downstairs while Laszlo puts Sophia to bed. Handing him one of your husband’s old Harvard t-shirts to sleep in you tell him “I’m sorry you’ll be down here by yourself, but if you need us for anything don’t be afraid to come get us - no matter what time it is, okay? And if you get cold there’s an extra blanket right here for you. I know it's July but….” you shrug. “Tomorrow after I get home from work we can go to the store and get you some stuff to use, some more clothes, that kinda thing.”

“Yes ma’am.” At the teasing look you give him his ears burn red with his mumbled “right sorry.”

“Alright Stevie. We’ll see you in the morning, sleep well.”

Laszlo is in bed reading when you enter the room. Nothing is said as you ready yourself for bed. Slipping under the covers you face him. He sighs and closes his book.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call. I became caught up in the day and only arrived home with Stevie maybe half an hour before you did.” He sighs a second time. “Most of the case I cannot talk about, but what I can say is he was living with his mentally ill father, whom was also an addict. He missed the last few weeks of the school year and has been regularly stealing food to get by. He has no other family. I just… it didn’t feel right to let him process his experiences away from someone properly trained to deal with these sorts of things, in addition to how traumatic entering foster care at his age can be. I spoke with those in social services and was granted temporary custody until we find another more permanent solution.”

“Of course.”

He takes hold of your hand. “You aren’t upset with me?”

“I mean it would’ve been nice to have a bit more warning… but I get it. He can stay as long as he needs to. He’s a sweet kid,” you reassure him. “I told him that I would take him shopping after work tomorrow, so if you could pick up Soph from preschool that would be great.”

“Perhaps instead we can all go? I was thinking that I would bring him to the university with me so that he’s not alone all day. You could get her and then we could meet somewhere, get dinner afterwards?”

You lean closer to him to curl around his arm and rest your head on his shoulder. He always thought so much about others, especially children. Laszlo had such a heart of gold and it honestly left you in awe of just how much he was willing to give so that others could find peace and happiness. Like the older he got the more he had to give. The thought warms you. “How are you literally the best person I know? And to think you used to be so worried about being able to be a good father and now you’re the best of all of us.” He huffs a little as you nuzzle into his chest.

“I have you to thank for that, Bärchen.” He drops a kiss to your head. “But it’s getting late and I’ve been up all day. We should get some sleep.”

Soon after you're both dreaming.

___

Stevie had been with you for three weeks. It only took him a few days to start to settle in, and you discovered that he was quick with his wit and far smarter than he let on. He was a little bit of a sarcastic smart-ass at times, but all in good nature. He was endlessly entertaining. Laszlo sat down with him almost everyday to talk about what he was feeling, the things he experienced, and ways to deal with the loss of his family. Already you both saw improvement.

Even Sophia got on well with him. Most teenage boys wanted nothing to do with little kids, let alone a 4 year old that loved playing 'spaceship barbie'. But not Stevie. On his fifth day you'd found him sat on the floor playing with her and going along with her childlike imagination. When she insisted he play the barbie that needed saving he went along with it, high pitched voice and everything. He even encouraged her to pick up her toys before bed - a feat you and your husband struggled with at times. It struck you how much Stevie became a big brother of sorts to her.

Laszlo grew even more fond of the boy. He wasn't really one for TV, but every evening he sat and watched some show on Netflix about racing with the teen and didn't complain once. Laszlo had tried to explain the role of adrenaline in racing drivers as a psychological function, but Stevie just brushed it off and said it was the driving so fast that made it "cool".

The two did bond over an unlikely subject - punk rock. When you got home from work two weeks into his stay and heard the music blasting in the parlor you worried someone had broken in. Whipping into the room you saw Laszlo in his chair tapping his foot to the intense guitar and singing; Stevie nodded along to the music as he held an old album cover. It didn't take long for Sophia to start jumping along to the music too.

"What is this?" You yelled out over the bass - you couldn't recognize it and it clearly wasn't English.

"Die Toten Hosen, a band I listened to growing up in Germany. Stevie found the record and asked to listen."

"Listen? I think you mean blow out your eardrums!" Even with needing to shout to be heard you had to laugh at the situation. How your husband had a secret love for German punk you'll never know; yet you would never let him live it down.

And when Stevie came and woke you both up in tears three nights ago you made him hot chocolate while Laszlo sat down with him. He confessed that he had never been treated or cared for like he was in your home. How he wished he could stay because he felt wanted. Your heart broke for the boy. To be so young and so lost, craving someone to simply be there for him.

Yet everyday he grew more open. He broke out of his shell. He had goals and ambitions; he wanted to amount to something bigger than he had thought he ever could. It almost shocked you at how much fire was within him.

At how much he fit in with your little family.

At how it was like he was meant to be there.

___

Laszlo was oddly quiet when you got home. Sophia had run off to find Stevie, and you tracked your husband down to his office. He listened as you talked about your day for a good ten minutes; he said almost nothing the whole conversation.

You move closer to him. Placing the back of your hand to his forehead you check to see if he's feverish or sick. He didn't feel warm. "Laz, are you feeling okay?"

He gently pulls your hand down and leaves a kiss on your palm. "The department of social services called this morning to inquire about what we want to do with Stevie. This would be the third time they have asked."

He hadn't mentioned it to you at all that they were calling already. "Okay. What do you think we should do?" You pause for him to continue.

"I told them I would need to speak with you before any further decisions were made regarding him…" His fingers tap against the wood of his desk. "I'm not sure I have an answer for them. Nor for you." He swallows. "I'm afraid of what might become of him should he go into the system. Or that he will not get the support he needs given his past. Any option involving allowing him to stay for a bit longer is a commitment I won't make without your full support, of course. I could never ask that of you." As he speaks you can hear the frustration pouring from him, feel the irritation radiating through the room. "I refuse to give up on him- I- I just don't have the answers on what to do without them hounding me and he deserves better than this, dammit."

"He does… Do you remember on your 50th birthday, what you told me?" Laszlo looks up at you confused. "You said that you had wished you were ten years younger so you had the energy and time to do all of it again. That if you were younger we would've had a whole gaggle of kids - brothers and sisters for Sophia."

"Wishing I was younger doesn't make a difference in helping Stevie-"

"Laszlo - let's adopt him." Your words stop him in his tracks. You had decided not to have any more after your daughter was born. Laszlo was nearing 50 and the pregnancy had been hard on you. But regardless you knew that you both had the means and the love to give another child, probably five or ten more children if you really wanted to. So why not start with one that's already wormed his way in to the family? "I've seen how fond you are of him already. You've taken him under your wing as if he was your own. And how good he is with Sophia? Hell I couldn't ask for a better older sibling for her - and she loves him already. And honestly, Laz, I do too."

"You think we should adopt Stevie?"

"I think we should ask, yeah. He deserves a good home and a strong father figure that's going to put him first. He looks at you like you hung the stars, Laszlo. He needs us, and truthfully I think we need him. So yeah - what's one more added to this little shindig we've got going for us?"

"Have you-"

"-thought it through? Yes. Completely."

You can see the smile he fights to hold back. "We should call tomorrow and see what the protocol is for stating our intent to adopt and getting the paperwork."

"Um…" You shuffle your feet. Nose scrunched, you confess "I may have already called them. On the way from work I asked about what would need to be done if we wanted to pursue that route, but since they already know who we are from you working with them for years it can be fast tracked." You pull him out of his chair to stand before you. "All we have to do is say 'go'."

He has no hesitation.

"Go."

Laszlo doesn't hold back his smile or his laughter as he spins you around his office floor. You're certain your children downstairs can hear your giggles.

Tag list

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[pure-kirarin]

Slow & Steady [P2] [Sabo x f!reader] (+18)

Genre : Romance - Smut - Bestfriends to lovers General warnings : Alcohol consumption - Dark themes - Swearing - S m u t - possessiveness - Mention of ex-relationships - jealousy

A/N : This is really different from my usual writing style but I am experimenting. Please tell me your thoughts and don’t hesitate to ask to be added to the tag list :) AO3 : https://archiveofourown.org/works/31877203?view_full_work=true

In the last chapter --  «-Enough playing now, you're going to sleep. -B-but ! This wasn't what I asked for....You're really a coward after all...You virgin... » He carried you to his room, putting you on the bed and sitting next to you. «-I'd love to prove you wrong. However, it would be better if you were in a state where you'd be able to recall how good I am. If you want me to fuck you this badly then maybe ask me when you're sober.

Part I - Part II

Part II  -Yeah yeah...Pff..You're no fun Sabo. Things were finally getting interesting ! »

He smiled seeing that you were now calmer. You started to yawn and bury your face in his pillow. He loved to see you getting so comfortable in his room. He really needed a cold shower after your little show.  -Goodnight (Y/N). I'll sleep on the couch. You can get comfortable. -Are you crazyy ? You gonna leave me alone like this ? Let's sleep together~ -Come on (Y/N), you're a big girl. You could sleep alone for one night, would you ? Translation : I don't want to spend the whole night with a semi. And you're dangerously flirty, and I have wanted you for years and now I have to abstain.

-Pleaaaase. You said looking at him with puppy eyes. He rolled his eyes placing a hand in his hair. God.damn.it.

You won again. Like every time. * * *  You opened your eyes hardly next day, feeling something hard against your thigh. You looked at the ceiling

Oh...I am not in my room...Where the fuck am I ?

you turn around only to discover the embodiment of Adonis to your side. A light beam was lighting up Sabo's face. He looked like an angel as his beauty couldn't be that of a human.

Was he always this handsome ?

You didn't know, in fact, you have never had the occasion to wake up in his bed. Wait, in his bed ? This realization came slowly as your head was still foggy from yesterday's consumption.

You looked down, the thing that was pressing against your leg was indeed :

his thing.

You frowned, blushed, pulled away, put a hand on your lips repressing an internal scream, all of this in around three seconds. You then tried to calm down, telling yourself that it was very normal for a man to experience this kind of morning unconviniences, and that Sabo was a man, after all. Even if  you have always seen him as a bestfriend, he was still a man that is capable of physical attraction.

Now that this internal monologue was done with, you felt a bit calmer, but that didn't answer your question. You got out of bed, trying to recall what happened after going in the bar. And it came back. All of it. Without any mercy for your feelings.

You wanted the ground to swallow you whole. Your only wish was to disappear which meant : calling Nami. You headed out of the house, not even having the courage to face your bestfriend.

« Namiiiii -Uh ? What's the matter ? -I fucked up. I fucked up really bad. -Oh yeah ? Tell me about it. -Wait, why do you seem excited ? -O-oh I'm not excited. Come on tell me. What else could you have possibly done ? -I asked Sabo to fuck me. -Wait what ? You could hear Vivi ask Nami about what happened and her answering « She asked Sabo to fuck her ». -Nami ! Don't go on telling everyone about this. I'm on my way. -For starters, Vivi isn't « everyone », she's my girlfriend. And I'm here waiting for you to tell me what happened. -Wait, I'll come at your place. This can't be discussed over the phone. »

You hung up on her. Ten minutes later, you were at her place. Extremely confused. Nami was painting her nails bright red on the bed while Vivi was sitting comfortably on a chair. You let your whole body weight fall on a lounge pug, tourmented.  «-So tell me how you and Sabo ended up fucking. She emphasized the last word in a way that made you almost choke on air.  -We didn't actually. Nami and Vivi both sighed in a synchronized « Ah » of disappointment. -So hmm...I don't remember clearly. I was really drunk-- well that you're aware of and...And Sabo didn't want to leave me alone so we went to his place. Ace was at Thatch's so we were alone. We hugged and he comforted me. Then I started teasing him, and I don't know what I was thinking, but I kissed him, and then I asked him to fuck me. -Wow that escalated quickly. Said Nami as she continued painting her nails.

-Well, I was heartbroken, I needed something, someone, and he was there, and you know Sabo, he's a good guy ! I don't know what's worse, the fact that I asked him to fuck me or the fact that he said no.

-Oh god I'm so so sorry

- Nami please don't make things worse for me.

-No offense, but you're so dense. Sabo has always been into you. Do you want him, or do you not ? I know that going right into a relationship after a breakup is a bad idea. But honestly it's worth giving it a shot. He's a really good guy. Try dating someone nice for once.

-I don't know, he has something unsettling about him. Like « almost too good to be true » you know ? Added Vivi.

-Ohhh~ I see. Honestly, I always thought that he was a bit prude and hella vanilla. I mean, yes, he's my best friend. But he has never talked about girls to me or about sexual stuff. So I just assumed that. I never thought that he'd be packin' like that. You said as you popped a lollipop in your mouth.

-Ah ? Was it really that impressive ? asked Nami, genuinely curious.

-Yeah. On a scale from 0 to doflamingo he's a solid eight point seventy five. (*)

-Oh gosh. I understand why you're so worked up now.

-That's really...precise. Added Vivi, a bit horrified.

(*) [ The dear reader might need this clarification ; Doflamingo was Law's uncle, he sometimes came to pick him up after uni with his luxurious lamborghini. He wore extremely tight pants that left little to the imagination. And he was most known among your clique for having a nine incher. It was a running joke wether to know if Law got his uncle's genes. Needless to say that this joke wasn't to Law's taste. Now back to our adorable Y/N. ]

-So. I really don't know what to do. I am still heartbroken. -And horny. Added the ginger. -Yeah, that too. I'm afraid of ruining our friendship. -Listen dear, said Nami as she was closing the nail polish bottle, if you're not going for it, someone else would. And trust me, that girl Koala is upping her game. She's going to steal him right in front of your eyes, just like this - and she snapped her fingers. -Oh, and then, you can forget about being « best friends ». Said Vivi adding fuel to the fire. -Yeah, once he's gonna start dating, he won't have too much time for you-- and then, that Koala girl, my god, she seems extremely possessive ! -No way, your voice was detached, trying to act is if you weren't worried, Sabo has never dated any girl before.- -Yes but he seems to get along with that girl. And to be honest, she's kinda cute.

-Nami ! Vivi pinched her forearm playfully, pretending to be jealous.

-That hurt ! And don't be jealous, you know that you're my only one~

-Hmm...I prefer that. Vivi laughed. You started caughing reclaiming for their attention.

-Attention please ! We're discussing my dick-appointment here.

-Jesus you're really annoying, (Y/N), just go for it already.

-How much did he pay you to tell me this huh ?

-What ? He didn't pay me ! You're just always getting your heart broken. I'm just trying to be a good friend.

-Say that you are trying to get rid of her~ Jokes Vivi.

-Vivi, don't expose me like this- Nami plays along while laughing.

-I hate you girls ! You say as you throw a pillow on Nami. The ginger starts complaining that you messed her Nail polish, and the whole scene metamorphosed into a pillow fight.

* * *

You spent the whole day with the girls, chit-chatting about boys and girls and playing stupid games. You felt way more comfortable now, less ashamed. However, you were surprised because you didn't get a message from your bestfriend. You wondered wether he was mad at you, it wasn't in his habits.

You decided to message Ace [click for conversation] [ (Y/N) : Heyy amigo is Sabo ok ? Did he tell u smth abt yesterday ? Ace : Ouch, your hurting my feelings, </3 Only talking to me to ask about my brother~ Yea hes okay why tho ? (Y/N) : Ooo kay. He's home ? Ace : He is. Why don't u directly text him ? (Y/N) : Don't tell him I asked. Btw I didn't forget about those 10 bucks you « borrowed » from me. Give it back.] He didn't answer. You sighed and decided to go see Sabo to settle things down. It was the first time that you were embarrassed to see your best friend. You dressed up in a black skirt and t shirt. You didn't usually pay attention to your looks when you went to hang out at Sabo's, but you were really stressed out and what the girls have said about Koala made you scared of losing him. After all, you had some abandonment issues. You had to settle this down once and forever. You arrived at the guy's place, it was an apartment not so far from your own student flat. You knocked on the door and Ace opened : -Ohhh, (Y/N), he whistles, lookin' like a girl today huh ? -What are you implying you dumbass ? Where's Sabo ? -He's in his room with Koala.- -Wait what ? Koala ? What is she doing here ? Ace raised an eyebrow then said amused ; -I don't know, go ask him yourself. -You're useless as usual. -Always so sweet. You on your period or something ? -I didn't forget about my twenty bucks by the way. -I said I'm goin' to pay you back alright ? Now go talk to Sabo. You and Ace were always teasing each other in a brotherly way, but in reality, he really cared for you, it was just your usual way of communication. But it was true that knowing that Koala was in Sabo's room put you in a bad mood. You knocked on the door with a knot in your stomach. Did they start dating ? Was Sabo interested in her ? These ideas were torturing you. But why did you care anyways ? It was none of your business. He could date whoever he wants. You opened the door but there was only Sabo relaxing on his bed, still fully clothed. « - Sabo ?-Oh, (Y/N), what brings you here ? -Why ? Do I need a reason to see my best friend ? He sits on bed looking at you. He doesn't fail to notice your cute outfit, it was different from your usual sweatpants and hoodies, the way it complemented your figure was almost too much for him. Just that sight was driving him insane, but his face didn't betray his emotions, like always, he acted friendly, not an ounce of lust in his dark ebony eyes. You took place next to him. He smelled good, you thought. The same fresh minty smell as last time. Did he always smell this good ? -(Y/N) ?Huh ? Is everything okay ? His voice seemed concerned.He cared for you. And you had those stupid immature and posessive thoughts. Get a grip of yourself, (Y/N), you thought. -Oh yea-- wasn't Koala here ? Ace told me you were with her.

You tried so hard to act like you didn't care, but he knew you like the back of his hand. But still, he played along. -Hmm..Yes. She just left. I was going out as well. He says with a sweet smile, looking at his watch. You couldn't help but make a disappointed face. -But Sabo I wanted to - I'm really sorry (Y/N), let's talk later. He ruffles your hair and you close your eyes as he does so. You felt stressed out. What happened exactly ? You felt intimidated in his presence for the first time. You wanted him to stay and talk this out. It was a bit awkward for you now. You never thought too much. As he was going out of the room you held the fabric of his coat tight in your hand ; -Sabo- -Hum ? Need me to drop you somewhere ? -N-no. You let his sleeve go, realizing what you have just done, I'll stay a bit then go back home. Don't worry about me. -Alright then. See you later ? -Yeah. See ya. ]

You looked at Sabo go away and you followed him shortly after. Meanwhile Ace was sitting on the couch and watching some movies. You went back home and was quite tormented. It wasn't the right time to worry as you had your assignments and studies to deal with. On one hand, you didn't even have the time to think of your ex boyfriend and his cheating but on the other, you felt like you were let down by Sabo. But why ? He didn't do anything. He just found himself a new friend and a potential new girlfriend.

He didn't even talk about her, but why where you so upset by him meeting her ? After all, he had the right to date just like you always did.

A few days have passed and you didn't get the chance to talk to Sabo. Your exams were getting closer and closer and you didn't feel ready.

Usually, Sabo would help you with your assignments but you were too scared to ask. You realized how much you relied on him and how he has been always there for you.

Who were you exactly to him ?

Maybe you took him for granted.

As you were on your bed looking at the ceiling and trying to collect every drop of motivation in your system to study, you heard your phone ring. It was Sabo's ringtone ! ----- Tag list : @vemuabhi @chloe-abbacchio @mwls-garden @soanywaysistartedsimping If you wanna get tagged just ask for it :)

[ramp-it-up]

Cuddle Buddies

Pairing: Roommate! Rafael Casal x Reader

Word Count: 2.4k

Warnings: Minors DNI, RPF, angst, cursing, pining, jealousy, suggestive language, butt slapping, fluff! No smut!  All errors my own. I apologize if you like the smell of patchouli, lol.

A/N: This is an answer to the following ask from @teatro-dira :

Okay so I don't know if this is kinda weird but like an Rafael x reader were they are like really cuddly(like a lot of hugs, cuddling and stuff) friends and roommates and everyone teases them asking them if they're dating. Then Rafael gets a girlfriend which makes y/n lowkey feel betrayed and jealous, but he doesn't realize that. Y/n accidentally ruins their relationship(you chose how). They get into a fight, but it ends in fluff. Hope you understand what I mean:)

Here it goes! I hope you like it!

———-

A series of unfortunate events led you to this situation six months ago.

You were subletting Rafael’s apartment in Santa Monica when production wrapped a month early on his project in Vancouver. He had nowhere to go, and neither did you, so you agreed to share the space.

You vibed, almost as much as he and Daveed did. Folks began to call you the fourth Muskateer, for as much as you, Rafa, Daveed and his girl were always together. 

You all talked, smoked, and created together. You and Rafa especially were always all over each other, keeping each other warm under blankets on the couch, watching movies while you ran your fingers through his hair, in one or another’s bed watching videos, or writing in tandem. 

It was all good, cause Rafa was being a man-whore at the moment with several ladies, and you were just chilling. It was dope. 

Almost.

It would have been all the way dope, except...

Except for the fact that you were in love with Rafa.

You loved sharing the same space with him, because you could smell him when he just got out of the shower, play in his silky hair, and feel his strong arms around you. And when he wore grey sweats…. Damn.  You and your little bullet celebrated every time that happened.

Everyone could tell, except for Rafael.  People ragged on you two so hard, that you vehemently denied it every time, to the point of getting heated.

One night, you side eyed the teaser through a cloud of smoke after catching Rafa’s grimace when they said you two should get together.  Your mood sank at what you perceived was rejection.

“I would NEVER get with Rafa, that’s the homie.  He’s like a brother to me. Ugh. Getting with my brother? No way. We’re just Cuddle Buddies.”

Rafa blinked and then took a toke.

“Exactly, we the homies. Platonic Ride or Dies.  It’ll never happen.”  He passed what he was holding and then stood up. “Cuddle Buddies till the end.”  He sounded disgusted.

“I’m going to go get some food. I’m hungry. What does everyone want?”  After everyone yelled out their orders, you offered to come with.

“Nah, sis.  I’m good.  Gonna clear my head. I’ll be back soon.  Rafa peaced out and you sat back down with the crew.

-------

Ever since that night, Rafa seemed a little distant.  He was always busy, and never had time to sit and kick it with you the last couple of weeks.  You all never seemed to link.

One night, he was home when you came in with groceries.

“Oh shit, I didn’t know that you’d be here!” You put the groceries down on the counter while Rafa was at the stove, cooking up some pasta with marina.

“Mmmmmm. Smells good!” You went and stood very close to him, expecting him to give you a side hug, at least.

He just turned and glanced at you, a smirk lifting one side of his face.

“Will you never learn to keep an umbrella in the car? You always come in soaking wet from the rain.”

Here he was, shaking his head that you didn’t have enough sense to come in out of the rain.  How could this talented genius ever want to be with you?

You just played it off, as usual. “I’m starving. I didn’t think I would make it through cooking, but you’re always clutch, Rafa!” 

Rafa stood there and gaped at you.

“Uhhhhh… I thought you said you were driving down to the Vista to see your mom… I have someone coming over for dinner....”

“No.  She’s decided to go on a cruise to Cabo with her bestie… she just called and told me as she was boarding the ship this afternoon.  The hussy. Tryna be fast with her little friends.”  You laughed.

“So, who’s coming over?  UTK? Wayne? Jimmy?”

You jumped up on the counter and watched as Rafa put some french bread with butter and garlic in the oven.  Smelled like heaven.  Those guys would definitely invite you to stay.

Rafa wiped his hands on the towel that was hanging on the stove. And turned around to face you.

“Her name is Aurora.”

It was like he’d punched you in the gut. He’d NEVER brought one of his heauxes around. You fought the urge to double over, even though you felt nauseous.  When you looked at him, he looked concerned.

“Hey, you okay?”

You jumped down from the counter and quickly nodded your head, laughing weakly.  

“I...uh.. Yeah.  Like I said, I haven’t eaten since breakfast, expecting to be at dinner with my moms by now.”

You grabbed your groceries, putting them up quickly and grabbed an apple, taking it to your room.

“I’m going to get out of your way in a minute, I’ll go over to Carla’s and hang with her tonight. We’ll probably go out and do what we do, you know?”

Rafa still looked worried.

“Are you sure you’re ok? You need more than an apple. Look, stay…”

“NO!”  Your voice was raised and it startled you.  “I mean, I’m not one to be a cock blocker.  I’ll just get my stuff and get ready to go.”

Rafa just watched as you scurried into your room. Why did you feel like crying?  Why did you feel as if you would never breathe properly again?  You got out your phone and called Carla.

20 minutes later, you exited your room dressed for the club with your overnight bag.  There was a strange smell in the room, and it wasn’t pasta.  It was patchouli.  You HATED patchouli.

You didn’t realize you were giving the gas face until Rafa came out of the kitchen followed by a short, but cute woman, with a body like, whoa. 

Of course.

Rafa glared at you and you fixed your face.  That bestie telepathy was on point. Then he looked up and down, as if he were judging your freakum dress.  Well, fuck him.

“Oh, hey!  Y/N, this is Aurora.  Aurora, Y/N.”

Aurora ignored your outstretched hand and went in for a hug. 

“Y/N!  I’ve heard so much about you that I feel like I know you intimately, just like Rafael.”  

You tried to keep your face straight in reaction to her scent, then gave her a sideye. 

Was it the inept way she rolled the ‘R’ in Rafael, or the thinly veiled shot at your relationship? Either way, you felt like slapping the shit out of her. You looked at Rafa, but then just cleared your throat.

“And I’ve heard so much about you as well.  You’re all Rafa talks about.” He shook his head behind her.  “Nice to meet you, but I’m headed out for the night.”

It was then that Aurora saw your bag and brightened up.  

“Oh!  You do look nice. Are you leaving, you sure you don’t want to stay?”  

You could smell insincerity a mile away. Even patchouli couldn’t cover that up. You just smiled at her.  

“No ma’am.  I’ve got places to see and people to do.”  You winked at them as you walked out of the door, holding up your umbrella.  “Stay dry y’all.”

You made it out the door without crying of jack slapping that little bitch or Rafa.  You were winning.  

But why did it feel like you’d lost everything?

-----

You and Rafa successfully avoided one another for days.  He was either over Aurora’s or you were with Carla, your mom, or just stayed in your room.

One time you passed Rafa and Aurora on the couch watching a movie on your way to the kitchen to get something to eat.  Rafa’s head was in her lap.

You stopped dead in your tracks when you heard Rafa’s slightly raised voice say: “Don't’ mess with the swoop, Babe.”

‘Babe.’ He called her Babe. That’s it. It was time for you to go. 

You were cramping Rafa’s style.  You just tiptoed back in your room, making little to no noise so that they could watch the movie in peace. You didn’t see Rafa looking at your door after you went in.

----

A week later, you let Rafa know your move out date.

“Wait. What?”

Rafa’s mouth was open. You repeated yourself.

“Well, I’m going to move in with Carla. She’s going to let me ride her couch until this other place comes open in three weeks. It’s a sweet deal, near the studio….”

Rafa’s mind was racing, you could see the gears turning.

“Well… why don’t you just stay here until then, we got a good thing going.” He looked upset. What was up with him?

“Rafa… I’m just in the way.  You’ve got Aurora…”

“Hold up, wait.  We aren’t even that serious.  I mean, I just stopped seeing Bev and Chrissy. He looked at his watch. Last week.”

You laughed at Rafa’s fuckboi ways.  “Well, what about me? I might want to date someone and bring them over…”

Rafa’s face changed.

“Bring someone over here…”

But it didn’t sound like an invitation, it sounded like a threat.  

It was your turn to stare at Rafa.  “What the hell…?”

He straightened up.  “I mean, any of your guests are welcome here.”

You sighed and shook your head. 

“See what I mean? Things are getting tense, I want us to stay friends, not be tight with each other all the time.”

Rafa grinned.  “You said ‘tight.’”  He dodged a couch pillow thrown at his head.

“What are you, a 12 year old?”  You were rolling.  He really was one of your best friends.  But you needed space to get over yourself.  And him.

“Okay.  You grown.  But just know that you don’t have to go.  And know that I will miss the hell out of you.”  

Rafa came over to hug you, and he held you longer than normal, and then kissed the top of your head.  You looked up at him, still in his arms and it was like…

You cleared your throat.  “Well, I guess I better go start to pack.”

Rafa stepped back.  “Ok.”

Both of you hurried to your perspective rooms.

-----

One night, a couple of days later, Rafael came into your room without knocking.

“What did you say to Aurora?”

You were laying on your stomach on your phone, in just your t-shirt an panties.  You rolled over and looked at him. 

“What are you talking about?”

Rafa wasn’t yelling, but he was keyed up.

“What did you tell her the last time you talked?”

You put your head down to think, then brought it back up. 

“I just said that I was going to miss playing in your hair when we watched movies, that I knew it was your favorite thing.”

Rafa nodded, then shook his head.  

“Y/N, you’re the only one I let touch my hair.  Aurora has barely been allowed near it.”

“That’s…. New.”  You were perplexed.

“No it isn’t. Everyone knows I don’t like people messing with my hair.  Aurora accused me of having feelings for you.”

You were sitting up now, crossing your arms and standing before Rafa.

“That’s ridiculous.”

Rafa looked like he was about to explode. He threw his hands up in the air and walked out of your room.

“OF COURSE IT IS! RIDICULOUS!”  He was really agitated.

“Yeah, I know all too well that you think it's ridiculous for me to want to be with you.  I don’t know what makes you think I’m not good enough for you?”

“Good enough for ME?  You’re the one running around with all the model/actress types, you’re the one who thinks I’m beneath you.  You said so that one night when you said we were ‘Platonic Ride or Dies.’”

“Here we go! Total distortion! Did you hear what you said before I said that?  You said I was like your brother.  Your brother.  You think it’s that disgusting to be with me.”

“I just said that because you made a face when what’s her face said we should be together.”

“I made that face because I was imagining fucking your brains out.  It was probably my cum face.”

You stopped and stared at him, mouth hinged open.

“The fuck?”  You burst out laughing.  “You are mad outta pocket Rafa.” Rafa was rolling too.  “But you ain’t gotta lie.”

Rafa stopped laughing.  

“Why do you think I’m lying?”

He was moving closer to you. This felt… dangerous. He looked up and down your body, and it was the first time you felt uncomfortable being comfortable around Rafa.

“Because you told me that you wanted to just be Cuddle Buddies a month after you came back from Canada. You drew a line in the sand.”

Rafa shook his head at you and smiled, green-blue eyes twinkling. 

“I knew you were too zooted.  I shouldn’t have tried to shoot my shot.”

“Run that back for me?”  You couldn’t believe what he was saying right now.

“What I said was..I wanted to be Cuddie buddies. Cuddie is… you know…”  

He pointed to your crotch.

You looked down, and then up at him again. “I can’t with you Rafa….” 

Rafa tilted his head in that sexy way at you. 

“Can you really not?” 

You were stunned.  Rafa continued.

“But I’m serious. When you came back with ‘Cuddle Buddies,’ I thought you were blowing me off and just wanted to be friends. So, I just settled into the friend zone.”

“Do you mean you’re attracted to me? Rafa, that’s funny as hell. You want me for my body?”

Rafa raised his eyebrows at you. “Hell yeah. C’mon girl. You know you’re fine.” 

Your cheeks heated up. You stared at him for what must have been a solid minute.  The possibilities of this alternate reality where Rafa liked you like you liked him opened up.

“But, Rafa... I don’t wanna be just cuddie buddies.”

“Oh. Ok, Cool….” Rafa cleared his throat and looked everywhere but at you.

“I want your heart.” 

Rafa paused when he heard that and his face fell as he moved toward you.  He took your arms in his hands.

“Y/N I'm sorry, I can't give you my heart.”

It was your turn to pick up your face.

“’Cause you already have it.” 

His mischievous grin made your stomach flip.  But you were mad.

“Fuck you, Rafa.” You were laughing with happiness, despite him playing too much.

“Oh, you don’t have to tell me twice.” Rafa swooped down and threw you over his shoulder. “I’ve been waiting six months for that invitation.”  

You were trying to kick and scream. 

Raa swatted you on the ass, then smoothed his hand over the cheek that stung.

“The more you struggle, the more you’ll be begging me to stop in a few.”

You struggled some more, but he made it to your bedroom and deposited you on the bed.  He glared down at you, all sexy green-eyed god.

“Try me, Y/N.”

You reached for the drawstring on his sweats.

“If you insist, Rafael.”

-----

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