#each door is simultaneously inviting and menacing

[slothcronch]

Liminal Nightmares

[justcallmefox89]

Cinderfella's Adventures in Cordonia - Chapter Nineteen

An AU of The Royal Romance with a male MC and a bisexual prince.

Masterlist

Liam finally faces the consequences of his actions.

Drake and Liam jump, startled by the stranger’s sudden appearance.  They had been so engrossed in their conversation that hadn’t even heard the door to the apartment open.  Deep green eyes study the pair intently as the stranger makes his way towards Callum’s abandoned chair.  He sits back in the chair with fluid grace, neatly straightening his charcoal colored suit and crossing his legs, not a strand of silver hair out of place. 

“Now,” the stranger begins pleasantly as he adjusts the cuffs of his suit jacket.  He gaze zeros in on the two younger men, intense and predatory.  “I would like to have a small chat with the two of you about my son.”

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

I exit the Uber, expecting to see firetrucks, flashing lights, EMTs, and a parade of pissed off clubgoers.  Instead I see a long line of mildly impatient twenty-somethings waiting for the pair of bouncers at the doors to card them and adorn their hands with a UV stamp so they can enter.

He lied to me?

“Didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”  A husky voice floats out from the shadows, quickly followed by a handsome man in a brown leather jacket.

“Wasn’t expecting to be here,” I respond, smiling briefly.  “But Pops text me; said there was an emergency situation here and an owner was needed on-site.”

Jax Matsuo’s brown eyes glitter as he smirks and makes a show of peeking around me to study the semi-orderly line that snakes around the building.  “Well, everything seems to be in order.  You wanna get out of here?”

Someone calls my name, saving me from giving my occasional friend with numerous benefits an awkward answer of why I can’t invite him over to my place and let him fuck me into my mattress like I usually do on Friday nights. 

“Callum!” Donny yells at me from his illegally parked car, motioning for me to come over.

“Another time maybe.”  Jax gives me a brief kiss, then meanders over to the club doors, joining the line of people waiting to be let in.

I jog over to the car, sliding into the passenger seat.  I barely have time to buckle my seatbelt before Donny rockets into the flow of traffic, heading in the direction of our apartment building.

“What’s going on?”

“You never should have left those two in your apartment,” he mutters, simultaneously jerking the wheel hard to the right and flipping off some poor soul in the bike lane.

Spidey senses activate.

“Donny… what’s going on?”

“You father decided to pay your little boyfriends a visit.”

“What the fu-”

“Ioan’s with him.”

Pure fear rockets through me.  “Drive faster!”

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

Drake and Liam exchange a worried glance, each one slightly afraid to speak. 

A wheezy laugh catches everyone’s attention as an elderly man saunters out of the kitchen, leaning heavily on a cane, sugar cookie in his free hand.  “Good job, Niall.  Now do your Batman voice and really scare the shite out of these boys.”

“Christ almighty, Da.”  Callum’s father closes his eyes and exhales heavily, massaging his forehead with the tips of his fingers.  “I thought Donny was going to take you home.”

“I decided to come help you instead.”

“So help me and go home, you wrinkled menace to society.”

The old man rolls his eyes and slowly walks to the empty recliner.  “You’ve gotten so tetchy since your last birthday, Niall.  I swear, the closer you get to sixty the crankier you get.”

Liam giggles nervously, but quiets instantly when Niall shoots him a nasty look.  Callum’s grandfather settles into his chair, shifting this way and that until he’s fully comfortable. 

“Go on, son.  Introduce me and then say whatever it is you want to say,” he commands, waving his hand imperiously. 

Niall sighs heavily and tips his head back, closing his eyes and no doubt praying for the patience to keep from throttling his father.  He opens his eyes, emerald gaze falling directly on Liam.  “I’m Niall, Callum’s father.  And this living museum artefact is Callum’s grandfather, Ioan.”

“Nice to meet you,” Drake and Liam mumble in unison. 

“You know, my very first job was in Boston.  At a fish market.  I didn’t move to New York until a few years later,” Ioan suddenly muses, apropos of nothing.  “What is it that you two boys do again?”

“Oh um.”  Liam nervously clears his throat.  “I am the king of Cordonia, Mr. MacKenzie.  Sir.”

“That’s right,” Ioan murmurs, stroking his thumb over his lower lip the way Callum does when he’s thinking.  “You’re the one who made my grandson compete.”

Liam pales.  “It wasn’t…  I mean… I didn’t personally make him compete, no.”

Ioan gazes sharpens and he raises one silver eyebrow.  “Oh?”

“It’s Cordonian tradition,” Liam sputters.  “There are standards one must meet before they can become the spouse of a king and -”

“Are you saying my grandson isn’t up to your standards, young man?”

“My standards and Cordonia’s standards are two separate things, Mr. MacKenzie.  Callum is lovely, but my future spouse must be approved by both the Cordonian council and the public,” Liam rushes to explain, falling directly into Ioan’s trap.

“So you encouraged Callum to play a losing game?”

Liam makes a strangled noise and shoots Drake a look of pure terror, silently begging him to step in.  Drake shrugs, quietly gleeful at Ioan’s interrogation of Liam.

“Drake, isn’t it?  What do you do for work?”  Niall’s green eyes, just a few shades lighter than Callum’s, pierce Drake with their intensity.

“I- um,” Drake falters while Liam hides his snickering behind his hand.

“Yes?” Niall prompts.

“I… help Liam?”

Niall looks unimpressed.  “In what capacity exactly?”

“With- uh… whatever he needs?”  Drake shrugs helplessly.

“So you’re a professional friend then?  Are you paid for your time and services?”

Ioan chuckles.  “Maybe he gets paid the same way you pay Donny for his ‘services’.”

“Da!”  Niall’s voice pitches higher for a moment and a faint pink colors his cheeks, before he scowls and returns his attention to the two young men on the couch.  “Why are you here?”

“Here as in…?” Liam ventures carefully.

Niall’s right eye gives a barely perceptible twitch.  “As in my son’s apartment.  As in the building that I own.  As in this city.  As in this state.  As in this fucking country.  So I repeat myself, which I truly hate to do.  Why.  Are.  You.  Here.”

Liam frowns and straightens his spine, annoyed by the other man’s tone.  “New York is the final stop on my engagement tour.  An international engagement tour.  It’s not as if I picked this city solely because Callum lives here.”

“Any yet…” Ioan murmurs, pointedly gazing around the apartment.  “Here you are.  In Callum’s home.”

“When you’re engaged to someone else.”  Niall’s gaze flicks over Liam, studying him, and he frowns, as if finding the young king lacking.  He glance over at Drake.  “I still don’t quite understand your part in all of this though.”

Drake guiltily avoids Niall’s gaze, picking at a small hole in his jeans.  “Some of this is my fault,” he admits in a small voice.  “I encouraged Callum to meet up with Liam.  To talk.”

Any pretense of civility leaves Niall in that instant.  “I don’t know what either one of you could possibly have to say to my son that has any value at all, and to be frank, I don’t care.  Get out of this apartment.  Go back to Cordonia.  And never speak to Callum again.”

“With all due respect,” Liam begins.

Drake closes his eyes and braces himself for the inevitable fallout that always follows any statement that begins with ‘With all due respect’.”

“Just because you’re his father doesn’t give you any right to dictate who Callum does or does not speak to,” Liam continues indignantly.  “He’s a grown man.  He doesn’t need you to interfere in his personal affairs.”

“And yet you allow your father to interfere in yours,” Ioan murmurs, studying his fingernails.  “I’ve always found hypocrisy so interesting.”

Liam falls silent, red-faced and fuming.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Your Highness,” Niall snarls.  “Callum loves too deeply, cares too much when he shouldn’t care at all.  I’ve seen my son broken before, held him while he cried over some boy.  I watched him go to prison for five years when he was innocent, to protect someone who probably never really loved him.  I was just starting to get my Callum back, my son who used to laugh and joke and come over for Sunday dinners and to watch football.  And then you came along.”

Niall fairly spits the word ‘you’, so intense is his anger.

“A few weeks with you and he comes back to New York a broken shell.  I held my son as he cried over another boy who didn’t deserve him.  Do you have any idea how many nights he cried for you?  Of course you don’t.  You moved on with your life and got engaged as if he never mattered.  My son was barely a blip on your radar.  I had to pick up the pieces you left behind.  I had to coax him to eat when all he would do is lay on that fucking couch and stare at the wall.  I was the one who got him to shower, to get dressed, and go to the therapist I arranged for him to see.  I was the one who encouraged him to start working, to leave this apartment and start interacting with people again.”

Liam’s eyes never leave Niall; he stares at the older man as if he’d been struck, the full implication of how his actions had hurt Callum hitting him for the first time.

“And yet, he’s still in love with you.  He misses you every single day, and you being here is only dragging out his pain.  You’re going to leave him again, go back to your pretty little castle and get married, have children.  And he’s still going to be here.  Alone and mourning the future he should have had with you.  Just leave… quit tormenting him with hope, with thoughts of a future you never intend to give him.”

“I…  I never meant… I…”  Liam looks helplessly to Drake for assistance, to help him explain the rolling turmoil of emotions stealing his words and the air from his lungs.

“Stop. Talking.”  For the first time that night Ioan raises his voice.  “You’re going to leave and never speak to my grandson again.  As far as you’re concerned he no long exists.  You ever attempt to contact him, even once, and I will gut you like the spineless sack of shite you are.”

The old man’s eyes are flinty, the cold, pale blue of them startling in it’s intensity.  Drake has no doubt that he means every word he just said.

“Pops!  Grandda!” 

All four men turn their heads towards the sound of a door slamming and footsteps pounding against the hardwood floor.  Callum skids to a stop in the living room, studying the impromptu gathering warily.

“What’s going on?”

[iam93percentstardust]

Hello. I am very interested with WinterIron. Enemies to Lovers, abo with omega Tony, accidental bonding, mutual pining, a lot and a loooootttttt of kissing and touching (with "I do it because of bond" excuses).

Please feel free to cross anything you feel uncomfortable with.

Hi there! I wasn't able to get everything in there, but hopefully there's enough? I loved this prompt so much, it was a fun verse to write in 💙

CW for omegas having few rights in this verse and for creepy Aldrich Killian

As always, everything I write can also be found on ao3

~

mate bond: [meyt bond] noun

1. A mental and physical connection that ties two people together following a mating bite

2. A pair bond between spouses

~

[An excerpt from The Other Half of My Soul: An Exploration into Unconventional Bonding Methods by Anderson-Lopez et al, 1972]

“While rare, it is important to note the existence of mate bonds in individuals who have not exchanged bites. These instances have notably occurred during times of high stress for one or both individuals, and are sparked by an inciting incident of some kind, usually a traumatic event. While these types of mate bonds, dubbed soulmate bonds by the media, frequently occur between individuals who are highly compatible, it is not necessary. Curiously, however, it does seem necessary that the individuals are scent matched for a soulmate bond, even though compatible second genders are not a requirement.”

~

Bucky maintained that it was an accident.

Tony had been meant for Steve, after all. That was the arrangement Howard Stark had decided on with Fury. Bucky had only come along as moral support for the first meeting between Steve and Tony. He wasn’t even supposed to meet Tony first, but the crowded ballroom had been too much for him, so he’d ducked out into the hallway, only to come across two alphas menacing an omega. He supposed that some of Steve’s fiery nature must have rubbed off on him, as he normally would have never taken on two alphas by himself, not when he was down an arm. But he’d taken one look at that omega, pretty brown eyes wide with distress, and leapt into action. It hadn’t been until both alphas had been sent off running with their tails between their legs that he’d realized the omega he’d rescued was Tony Stark, Steve’s arranged mate.

Unfortunately (fortunately? No, definitely unfortunately), the arranged match would never come to fruition as Bucky and Tony had looked at each other and immediately bonded without a shared word or bite between them.

Howard was furious, Fury less so—Bucky was still a SHIELD agent, even if he wasn’t the great Captain America, so the planned union between SHIELD and SI would still happen—but both Bucky and Tony insisted that it hadn’t been done on purpose. And, as neither had a mating bite but could still feel the other at the back of their mind, it was hard to disprove the existence of what had once been called a soulmate bond, though was now called the rather unglamorous name of Mate Bond Subtype C, which Bucky thought sounded like an illness.

The media thought it was the most romantic thing they’d ever heard. Steve, who was slowly courting another alpha from SHIELD, thought it was a relief. Bucky, who didn’t want an omega while he was still recovering from the surgery on his arm, thought it was a nightmare at first.

He didn’t know what Tony thought.

They might have shared a bond between them, but Tony had quickly figured out how to shield his feelings. It had taken Bucky a little bit more practice but he too had worked out how to keep his thoughts and feelings private, which was good, because he doubted Tony would like to know what he was thinking.

They’d been bonded for three months and, while Bucky had moved into Tony’s penthouse apartment, they didn’t share a room, let alone a bed. He still took long missions that took him away for weeks at a time. Tony spent more time at SI’s research labs than he did at home. Bucky hadn’t shared Tony’s heat, nor had Tony shared Bucky’s rut, though neither of them had invited anyone else into their beds. And other than their planned public outings where they had to touch to put on the façade of a happily bonded couple, they didn’t hold hands or kiss or lean into each other, giggling.

The problem was—Bucky wanted all of that. He wanted to sleep curled around Tony. He wanted the two of them to be home long enough to share more than one dinner together at a time. He desperately wanted to share cycles, but even more badly than that, he wanted to touch Tony as often as the omega could stand it. Because the problem was also this—sometime in the course of three months, he’d fallen in love.

~

Tony slid his hand into Bucky’s as they stood in the elevator. “It’s just a quick walk around the ballroom, say hi to a couple investors, and then we can leave,” he said reassuringly, giving Bucky a quick smile. “I know how much you hate these shindigs.”

This was true, Bucky did hate them, but he knew that Tony hated them just as much, though he hid it much better than Bucky did. “Don’t worry,” he replied, squeezing Tony’s hand quickly. “I’ll stick to you like glue.”

“Well, maybe not like glue. Like Velcro, maybe. Howard’s got a couple investors that I know he wants me to meet and that I know you’ll hate so you’re more than welcome to go off and find people more to your liking then. I heard Steve’s coming.”

Bucky had to fight to hide a frown. He knew Tony didn’t mean any harm by the comment, but he hated how Tony thought he wouldn’t want to be by his side even when meeting people he didn’t like. So what if he didn’t like them? He’d still prefer to be giving Tony silent support instead of wandering off and leaving him alone for that long.

Before he can respond, the elevator came to a smooth stop, the doors opening on a soft ding to reveal the glittering ballroom Maria Stark had chosen to host the Annual Stark Foundation’s Shareholders’ Ball, meant to honor those who had given so generously to charity over the last year. The room was decorated in delicate ice-like structures, calling to mind the snow blanketing the city outside, though it wasn’t nearly as cold inside. Golden chandeliers reflected off the dark windows, giving the impression of a never-ending stretch of light. It was all so very glitzy and glamorous. Bucky hated it. It was an obscene display of wealth, meant solely to remind everyone that the Starks were richer than anyone else in the room.

“One hour, Bucky Bear,” Tony murmured like he could hear Bucky’s thoughts. “And then we can go get burgers.”

He dropped Bucky’s hand in favor of sliding his own into the crook of Bucky’s elbow, gently steering him towards the first group of investors. Like every other rich person he’d met since bonding with Tony, they were simultaneously smug of their own “generosity” (mere pennies compared to their bank accounts) and jealous, both of Tony’s wealth and Bucky’s luck in landing a Stark (not his words). The smugness was blatant, the jealousy only slightly hidden in the way their eyes lingered as Bucky took the opportunity to brush his lips across Tony’s cheek, quietly telling him he was going to go get them drinks.

“I’ll be back before you even have time to miss me,” he promised, understanding the minute tightness at the corners of Tony’s eyes.

Tony smiled and nodded, attention already turning back to the investors—or, more likely, to his latest project, however much it might have looked like he was paying attention to Hugh Worthington IV. Bucky slipped through the crowd to the bar. Fortunately, it wasn’t crowded yet and he was able to order a whiskey for himself and a scotch for Tony, who always refused to drink the fruity drinks he actually preferred at these parties, almost immediately. As he waited, he turned back to the crowd, idly scanning it. Steve wasn’t there yet, if it was indeed true that Fury had managed to stuff him into a suit and send him off to schmooze. His eyes sought out Tony, who was laughing as he excused himself from the group Bucky had left him with, moving on to another small throng of people.

He smiled despite himself. Tony was lovely like this, despite his discomfort. Bucky got to see him laugh so rarely at home that he cherished every moment he got to see it while they were out in public.

“Sir, your drinks,” the bartender prompted. He thanked them absently and left a tip on the bar before making his way back across the ballroom to Tony’s side.

Tony wasn’t laughing now. In fact, if his pursed lips were anything to go off of, he was pretty furious, and Bucky wondered what had upset him between him leaving the bar and him returning to Tony’s side.

“Doll,” he said, letting Tony know he was there. Tony turned and took his drink, thanking him with a quick kiss that Bucky desperately wanted to turn into a longer, sweeter one.

“Honey, Senator Stern here was just telling me about an omega’s rights bill he filibustered so it wouldn’t pass,” Tony said, irritation bleeding into his tone.

“Now isn’t that interesting,” Bucky drawled, irritated himself. The bill in question was a law that he knew Tony had backed, as it would have put a stop to the arranged bondings the wealthy were so fond of. They’d both known it would be a longshot to pass, but they’d remained hopeful. “That’s the one that Stevie supported isn’t it?”

“It is,” Tony agreed. “My alpha here—” He patted Bucky’s chest. “—is close friends with Captain Rogers. They grew up together, you know. Steve spends nearly every Saturday evening with us. I’m sure he’ll be delighted to hear about this bill failing to pass. Isn’t he supposed to be putting in an appearance at the Senate hearing next week? It would be such a shame if he couldn’t make it.”

Tony’s statement was only partially true. Bucky mostly saw Steve at SHIELD, as Steve, despite being always welcome at their apartment, didn’t want to be reminded of how close he’d come to an arranged bonding of his own. But Steve, who had been an omega before receiving the serum, had always been an outspoken supporter of omega’s rights, and now that he was an alpha, and Captain America to boot, he used every bit of that privilege to push as much pro-omega legislature through Congress as he could. He was a thorn in conservative senators’ sides, like Stern, and it was a minor miracle that they’d gotten him to appear in front of Congress to talk positively about a Republican bill supporting an expansion of benefits for veterans, when he normally disagreed with anything Republican just on principle. Steve’s support would go a long way toward getting that bill passed.

Tony’s veiled threat was effective. Stern, one of the authors of the bill, blanched, making Bucky smile. He loved watching Tony do his thing. There was really nothing better than Tony putting bullies like Stern back in their place.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Stern stammered out before hurrying away.

As soon as he was gone, Tony drooped, leaning back against Bucky. It was nice, being able to lend his support to his omega, but Tony was standing up straight again after only a moment, the façade falling back over him.

“I really hate that guy,” Tony said softly. He looked up at Bucky. “Sorry about using your friendship with Steve like that. I was just so angry. Saw red for a second there.”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Bucky said. Impulsively, he reached out to clasp Tony’s shoulder, running his thumb soothingly over the soft skin just above his shirt collar. “You guys got a bad lot in life. You do what you gotta do to make it right.”

Tony hummed. “I really wanted that bill to pass. It wasn’t right, what Howard and Fury wanted me to do. I don’t want anyone else to have to go through that.”

“Sorry,” Bucky offered up. It was a lame apology, but he didn’t know what else he could say to make it better. He knew very well that if he and Tony hadn’t bonded that night, Steve would be Tony’s alpha.

To his surprise, Tony smiled and nudged his shoulder, teasing, “I don’t know, you’re not so bad.”

Bucky sputtered, nearly choking on his whiskey.

“Oh, look, Steve’s just arrived,” Tony said airily, like he hadn’t noticed the effect his words were having on Bucky. “Let’s go say hi.”

Talking to Steve at these events was always awkward. Tony and Steve were both aware that neither of them wanted anything to do with each other as mates, which made having to see each other a study in unspoken tension. He didn’t think it was that either of them had a problem with the other, and he suspected that they could even manage to be friends eventually, but it was that knowledge that they’d nearly been forced to mate that made things so tense between them. Still, he appreciated that Tony was willing to put up with it so that Bucky could see his best friend. It was the sort of small kindness that Tony unthinkingly did that had made Bucky fall in love with him so easily.

Tonight was no different. Tony and Steve exchanged no more than a few awkward words before Tony excused himself to go meet with Emma Frost. He didn’t bother kissing Bucky this time, as Steve was one of the few people they didn’t have to pretend with and it didn’t seem like anyone was watching them at the moment. It would have been different if they’d met up a few months ago. There’d been more than a few people who’d somehow got it into their heads that Steve and Tony’s proposed bond was a love match instead of arranged, and they’d all watched eagerly to see how Steve, Tony, and Bucky interacted in those days following Bucky and Tony’s bonding, clearly wondering if Steve was going to pick a fight. They’d been sorely disappointed, of course; Steve and Bucky didn’t fight over anything, let alone an omega that Steve hadn’t wanted.

“So Fury roped you into the dog and pony show, huh,” Bucky asked, eyeing the stiff collar of Steve’s shirt. He’d be willing to bet that it was brand new. Steve was much more at home in a pair of khakis and a flannel shirt than he was in a tuxedo.

“Senator Brandt actually,” Steve said, wrinkling his nose in distaste. “He thinks it’s good for me to make appearances and drum up support for SHIELD.”

“Sucks.” There was a niggling worry growing at the back of his mind, unrelated to Steve’s complaints about the brass, but Bucky didn’t know what it was. He glanced around the room, but was unable to spot anything amiss. He tried to put it out of his mind by asking, “How’s working with the Commandos?” He couldn’t entirely keep the bitterness out of his voice. Bucky had been moved out of the Commandos unit a few weeks before meeting Tony, and it wasn’t that he didn’t like being on Strike Team Delta, but he was still irritated that he hadn’t had a choice in the matter.

“Not the same without you,” Steve said, grimacing at him like he knew what was going through Bucky’s mind.

They continued talking about SHIELD as they slowly circulated the room and all the while, that worry was growing stronger, slowly morphing into fear, but it wasn’t until he happened to catch a glimpse of Tony standing in the corner and looking tense and unhappy that he realized they weren’t his feelings. They were Tony’s. Tony was worried and scared and had brought down his shields so that Bucky could feel his emotions and Bucky was standing on the other side of the room like an idiot.

“Excuse me,” he said brusquely, cutting Steve off. “Tony’s in trouble.”

He headed straight for Tony, pushing through the crowd without sparing a thought to anyone he might be offending as he shoved them aside. For once, it was Steve who was trailing after him, offering apologies to everyone who looked offended.

There was a look of naked relief in Tony’s eyes as Bucky marched up behind the alpha Tony was talking to. It was a look he’d never seen on Tony’s face before, at least not directed at him, and he wasn’t sure if he liked that his omega was happy to have him there or disliked that Tony had to be relieved at all.

“Something wrong, doll?” he asked, hand clamping down on the alpha’s shoulder.

“Bucky,” Tony breathed. He sagged back against the wall. “This is Aldrich Killian. He’d like to propose—” Tony’s mouth twisted unhappily. “He’d like to propose an omega trade. I told him I wasn’t interested, but he insisted on talking to you.”

Anger flared in Bucky’s chest, hot and furious. Omega trades weren’t common anymore, used mostly in backroom deals to secure a transaction. You treat my omega right and I’ll treat your omega right, and maybe we can have a deal. He knew the rich, traditional alphas Tony had grown up with still occasionally used them, but he hated them. He’d always hated them. The very concept treated omegas like property, like hostages, and the thought of seeing Tony—his Tony—under someone else had his vision shading red.

“Is that so?” he hissed.

Killian, the idiot, didn’t seem to notice Bucky’s growing anger. “Maya’s a great—” he began to say.

Bucky cut him off with a hand around his throat, slamming him into the wall.

“Bucky—” Steve started, a warning in his voice.

“Tell them it’s SHIELD business,” he snapped. “Isn’t that the usual excuse?”

What Steve did to placate the crowd growing around them, he didn’t know; he was too intent on Killian to care. “Let me get this straight,” he growled. “You asked Tony for a trade and when he told you no, because I know him, he wouldn’t ever want that and he wouldn’t be quiet about it, you cornered him and insisted you’d only listen to a no from me.” It wasn’t a question. Tony’s thoughts and emotions were flooding him with what Killian had tried to do to him. He growled again at the image of Killian’s hand on Tony’s arm, removed after only a moment. This—this—alpha had tried to put his hands on Tony, had ignored his clear no, and was still babbling on about whatever business deal he wanted out of Bucky—or, more likely, Tony, though as an omega, Tony wouldn’t be able to make that decision.

“It’s a yes or no question, Killian,” he finally snapped, losing his temper. “Did you or did you not ignore Tony’s answer—"

“He’s an omega,” Killian tried.

“He’s a person. He’s a person who was clearly uncomfortable with you and you should never have ignored that. The only reason you’re still standing and not laid out on the floor is because he cares about making a scene, but guess what, I don’t.” His hand tightened on Killian’s throat, making the man wheeze. “Do—”

“Bucky,” Tony said quietly, cutting through his anger.

Without removing his hand from Killian, he looked at Tony. Tony still looked a little shaken, but there was something else in his eyes, something that Bucky didn’t know how to describe.

“Let him go,” Tony continued. “You made your point.”

“He—”

“Yeah, he did,” Tony said, knowing what he was going to say. Bucky wondered if his own shields were down, letting Tony read his thoughts and feelings. “And you were here to stop it, so it’s okay. Let him go, we can go get burgers.”

He didn’t want to. He wanted to make sure Killian never laid hands on someone unwilling ever again, but then Steve was there, carefully pulling Bucky away as he muttered to him about seeing what Fury could do about Killian. And that wasn’t exactly what Bucky wanted, but it was better than nothing, and taking care of Tony was his priority anyway. So since Tony wanted burgers, he would go get burgers.

He spun on his heels, intent on heading to the elevators, only to freezes as soon as he saw Tony. They were supposed to be faking it, which meant that he should do something—wrap an arm around Tony’s waist or kiss his forehead or—or something. But Tony had just had to deal with an unwelcome touch. He shouldn’t have to deal with another one so soon afterwards.

Tony surprised him though by stepping forward and sliding his hand into Bucky’s, interlacing their fingers. “Come on, alpha. Let’s go home,” he said, leading Bucky through the crowd watching them. Bucky ignored them in favor of drinking in the sight of Tony whole and healthy, if not happy.

They were quiet in the elevator ride back down to the parking garage, quiet as they climbed into the back of the car, quiet as Happy pulled out onto the road. Then Tony slid across the backseat to tuck up against Bucky’s side. He rested his head on Bucky’s shoulder, and, after a moment, Bucky rested his cheek against Tony’s curls.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t,” Tony said. Bucky could feel the truth in his words through their bond, and he realized that Tony hadn’t put his mental shields back up. “I wouldn’t have asked for your help if I hadn’t been expecting something like that.”

“Shouldn’t have taken it so far though. I know you’re not—we’re not—” He grimaced as he fumbled over the words. He’d been able to admit for three months that he and Tony weren’t in a relationship, why was it so hard now?

Tony hesitated before carefully saying, “We could be.”

“We—what?”

“Bucky Bear,” Tony said warmly, sitting up so he could look him in the eyes. “You have to know—people don’t just do what you did tonight or the night we met, for that matter. Not for me. I—I don’t know, the way we bonded, it threw me off. I wasn’t expecting it and I reacted badly. But—then the way you reacted to Killian got me thinking—maybe we could try?”

“Try?” Bucky whispered.

“Try us?” Tony asked, leaning back in slowly, giving Bucky enough time to move away if he wanted to.

He didn’t want to. “Yeah,” he breathed. “We could try. I—I’d like that.”

Tony smiled at him, bright and lovely, and closed the distance between them.

[spiderlilyserendipity]

emerald green jhs (NSFW)

jung hoseok x female reader

genre: established relationship, smut, d/s

tags: dom/sub, sub!reader, dom!hoseok, lingerie, sir kink, hoseok calls reader feminine terms (princess and baby girl), aftercare

word count: 2.4k

🖤🖤🖤

you're a menace and you know it. the last few weeks have been exhausting for you and your boyfriend hoseok. you work long hours at your job, sat behind a desk typing away and running to and from meetings that all feel like they could've just been emails instead. you even have a new boss who has an even bigger ego than the last and is always pushing you to work harder. although in a much different line of work, hoseok isn't much different. there have been big changes at hoseok's label recently and although he still gets to do his job the way he likes, there have been internal changes. the staff that have supported hoseok's music for years have shifted and it's frustrated hoseok to try and make up for the gaps all on his own. you both agree that change is good if done well. you both are doing your best to support each other. but to be honest, you're impatient now. frankly, it's been a while since you and hoseok have had sex. in fact, you and hoseok hardly even kiss anymore, too focused on work and your exhaustion to even greet each other hello and goodbye properly. tonight's the night where you'll change that. hoseok is out at a friend of a friend's wedding, having tagged along with jimin just for the sake of it. everyone likes a party after working nonstop right? jimin had even invited you to come with, saying his friend didn't mind at all! but you had chosen to stay home, lying about an appointment in the morning that would cause you to be late for the afternoon ceremony. instead, you're sitting on the edge of your and hoseok's bed. you're wrapped in a fluffy white towel from the bathroom, having just come out of the shower. your hair is blow dried, and you giggle excitedly at the shopping bag in front of the full length mirror. hoseok is going to lose his mind when he sees this! you strip of the towel and pull out the set of lingerie you stepped out and bought this afternoon when the boys had left for the wedding. it's a lacy white bra and panty set. the saleswoman definitely thought you were a bride to be from the fact that it was pure white, but you certainly aren't. you and hoseok are steady and serious, having been together a few years now. you're sure hoseok will propose eventually when work and life circumstances align. but why not give him a taste of what the big day will be like now? you pull the lacy panties on first, admiring how the translucent fabric fits the curve of your ass and hips so good. you know hoseok loves that, and really you do, too. your body is beautiful. you smile to yourself in the mirror as you put on the bra, loving how the cups push your breasts up. the lace is so thin your nipples show, hard and protruding through the innocent white sheen. you squeeze your breasts, biting your lip as you imagine someone else's hands there. hoseok's long and nimble fingers, always working you up, pulling you apart so gracefully. last but not least, you put on one of hoseok's long white tees, so long it brushes your mid thighs. "perfect." you whisper. right as you're finishing up, you hear the door open. "baby, i'm home!" hoseok's voice calls from the door. you yawn loudly and squint your eyes as you make your way downstairs, pretending to have woken up. "oh, you're home?" you ask in a sleepy voice, as if you hadn't been in the shower until ten minutes ago, shaving to look pretty for him. hoseok smiles at you from the sofa. he opens his arms wide for you as you come over. shamelessly, your eyes take down his body. he's dressed in a fitted black suit, one tailored to fit the strong muscles of his chest and the protruding muscles of his thighs. he spreads his legs wider as he assesses your half dressed form, undoubtedly a little turned on at the sight of you wearing his shirt. "c'mere." he says in a low voice and you don't waste a second before you straddle in his lap. his hands wrap around your waist, pulling you into a hug. "did you shower before bed?" he asks, pulling back to give you a kiss. "i did." you say, shifting just a little in his lap. just enough so he wouldn't notice. then,

you whisper into his ear. "do i smell sweet, sir?" hoseok's hands release your waist and come down to grip your ass. "ah. i should've known you had a plan." he tuts, laughing under his breath. you gasp as he tightens his grip on you more. "did you touch yourself in the shower, princess?" "no, sir." you promise him, pulling back to look him in the eye. you're a bit above him since you're in his lap, making hoseok tilt his head back to look at your face. but even with his head resting against the sofa, hoseok looks entirely relaxed. he's in control. and you both know it. feeling bold tonight, you guide one of his hands off your ass and down between your legs. "sir can feel if he doesn't believe me." a smack to your clothed heat makes you jump. "are you giving me orders now?" hoseok asks in a cheerful voice, but his eyes are dark with lust. "have you forgotten who you belong to in the few weeks since i touched you?" "no, sir. i just want you to believe me." you say, lowering your gaze. "if you want me to believe you, you have to behave, Y/N. if you're going to be impolite, then i won't unwrap the cute little gift you're wearing tonight to rile me up. and then your little surprise would be a failure, right?" hoseok says, leaving a little kiss on your neck when he's done. you shudder at the touch. "i will behave." "of course! that's my good girl." hoseok says, all cheerful again. his eyes glitter fondly as he taps your chin. his grin grows as he notices you eyeing the rings on his hand. "oh? what's that? is someone getting greedy?" he laughs mockingly at you when you shake your head. "you're so eager tonight. i've ignored my pretty girl too much huh? bet you just wanted me to bend you over and use you up every day when i came home from work. wanted me to take my frustration out but you just didn't know how to say it, right? so you waited until sir left the house to buy pretty panties just for me to ruin." he explains this slowly, his hands moving down to cup your breasts. he kneads them roughly, making you shudder at the touch. when you don't answer, he says your name sharply. "y/n. i let it slide once already, but you know when i ask you something you answer me verbally. if you forget again you will be punished." you gasp. "no sir! no! i don't want to be punished. i wanted to come so badly for so long please don't edge me!" hoseok pulls you close until your chest is flush against his. you wriggle helplessly as your sensitive nipples rub simultaneously against the rough lace and the fabric of hoseok's blazer. all you want is his skin on yours. "colour." he says, no teasing in his tone when he looks at you now. you sniffle, unaware that you had gotten worked up so easily. "green." hoseok's gentle hands wipe the tears. he kisses your forehead. "good girl." he says, before gathering you in his arms and standing. you wrap your legs around him as his hands grip your thighs. you wrap your arms around his neck and pepper little kisses all over his face. you can't help that you're so needy, you just missed these moments so badly. the moments where hoseok made you feel the most vulnerable but also the safest and happiest woman alive. hoseok sets you on the bed lightly, then turns and closes the door. he takes his blazer off, watching you lay in his shirt and your white panties. "are you a bride?" he jokes, now unbuttoning the white dress shirt underneath the blazer. earlier in the day, the saleswoman had asked you the same question. but the implication is completely different here, and you blush. "i said," hoseok comes to sit at the edge of the bed. his arms cage you in, his long bangs hanging down. "are you my bride, y/n?" "i-if sir wants." you stutter breathlessly. "so honest when you need me, huh?" hoseok teases, kissing you again. "did all the wedding talk get you excited, hmm? want me to doll you up and show everyone that you're mine? my sweet bride?" when you cover your face in embarrassment, hoseok pulls your hands back. his smile is softer now, a little bit awestruck. "you really want that?" you nod.

"yeah." his eyes darken again. "up on your knees. take your shirt off slowly." you do so, and his eyes rake down your body as he watches. "turn around and face the mirror." you do as you're told. hoseok comes to kneel behind you on the bed, slotting a muscular thigh in between your legs. you whine as your heat presses against his hard muscle. behind you, you can already feel him getting hard. he's partly shirtless but still dressed while you're nearly naked. he loves the contrast and so do you. you love knowing who you belong to. "colour?" "green." hoseok's hands pinch at your nipples, twisting them and making you moan. you whine as he wraps one arm around your waist and uses his free hand to continue his ministrations on your nipples. you wriggle in his strong bold but you both know you love being restricted by your sir. "so wet. always so needy." hoseok chastises as he rubs you over the lace. you throw your head back against his shoulder, panting. he just laughs as he starts sucking hickeys on your neck in tandem with his rubbing. "please sir. please. i've been so good." "i know. such a good girl." hoseok praises, admiring his own work in the mirror. you watch your own chest heave in the mirror, already darkening marks on your neck. you will have to cover those when you go to work, but it doesn't matter right now. nothing matters except hoseok's touch. "sir. please." you are nearly crying now from how needy you are, so pent up. hoseok gives you gentle kisses. "one second, baby." you can hardly focus as you hear hoseok undressing behind you. it almost feels like you're waking up from a long haze when his strong chest touches yours. skin on skin, his skin just as hot as yours. but hoseok never shows how eager he is, not like you. because being in control is hoseok's skill. "let's get these off." he says, and you hurriedly take your panties off. with the cold air of the bedroom hitting your vagina, you feel like you're burning under hoseok's intense stare. "what's that, princess?" he asks, fingers dropping down to something sticking out of your hole. a toy. he pulls the toy out in one smooth movement, revealing a plug with an emerald green gem on the end piece. hoseok laughs disbelievingly. "oh?" "green is your favourite colour." you reply although it comes out more as a needy whine. you both know you're already falling into your headspace. it wouldn't be long until you got too overwhelmed to talk at all, only whines and moans as hoseok took over. in one swift movement, hoseok has two fingers buried inside you. you gasp at the familiar feeling, loving the stretch. "oh! oh, sir!" you cry out. hoseok's other hand comes to rub at your clit. "so needy. so eager to be all mine. even bought a plug that was sir's favourite colour." "yes, yes!" you cry out. "please can i have you?" hoseok's fingers leave abruptly, and soon his cock is lining up with your entrance. he pushes in slowly, giving you time to adjust. he moves to the edge of the bed, spreading his legs slightly. you hook your thighs overtop. in the mirror, his cock inside of you shows. with every little movement, the two of you can see it go in and out of you. you're so wet your arousal glistens on your thighs, as do hoseok's rings in the low light as he rubs your clit. "want it that bad? then take it." he says and you burst into action. you ride hoseok as hard as you can, skin slapping on skin and wet sounds filling the room as he goes in and out of you. hoseok stretches you wide, making you feel used up but in the best way possible. and you know you're all his as he whispers praises in your ear. "so sweet. good girl. so wet, keep going baby." "sir!" you cry out as you feel yourself slow down. "fuck," hoseok growls, lifting you up again. he manhandles you onto the bed so that you're laying down. he enters you again, pushing your thighs up and holding them back so he can enter you deeper. he sets a rough pace, making you pant in pleasure. "hoseok, baby, please!" you scream, momentarily forgetting the scene. he buries his head in your shoulder,

moving his hands to plant them on either side of you. your hands grip his shoulders like a lifeline. you feel pleasure everywhere. "c-can i come?" you ask hoseok. "yes, baby. come for me. come." hoseok tells you eagerly, reaching down to rub your clit. the two of you come together, you clenching around him as he shoots his seed into you. you sigh into hoseok's hair, pressing a kiss there. "thank you, sir." he kisses your collarbone in return. "anything for you, y/n." the two of you get cleaned up together in the shower. hoseok smiles at you fondly as you dress in regular panties and throw on one of his shirts again after. the two of you curl up under the covers, you between his strong arms. you always get needy after a scene, but hoseok knows you better. he knows how to make you feel safe. "hey, hobi?" "yes, y/n?" "i love you." "love you too."

A/N: this is my first time writing smut haha hope u guys enjoyed it! my requests are open for any writing ideas :) see u next time

[since0202]

Chapter 2

There was cool air blowing over Grace’s face when she pulled her eyes open. She pulled in a deep breath as her eyes darted around the room to take in everything. For a brief moment, she didn’t realize where she was. The darkness of the room crushed in around her and the familiar shapes were shifting menacing blobs. 

Grace pulled herself up and rested on her elbows. Cold sweat freckled her forehead and beaded through her hair. Low, blue evening light flooded her shared room. 

How long have I been out? 

The white and black Quileute blanket was pulled up around her waist. She wasn’t sure how it had gotten there. Had someone covered her or had she pulled it up over her in her sleep? 

For a moment, Grace tried to recall what she had seen right before she went out. She was pretty sure she’d seen her father’s face, but didn’t think anything of it as she usually had visions of her dad as she fell asleep. The moment between her and Edward escaped her at this moment, whether that was her own mind trying to protect itself or something else was unclear. 

She swung her legs over the side of her bed and tested her weight on her legs. Feeling fine, she stood up and slowly made her way downstairs. Charlie was parked in front of the TV watching some fishing championship show. He glanced over at her as she walked past. 

“Didn’t know you were here, were you upstairs?” he asked. 

“Uh, yeah, I fell asleep I guess.” Grace’s throat scratched and she excused herself to the kitchen to get some water. As she filled the glass, she had sudden flashes of her interaction with Edward. She closed her eyes tightly, a painful grimace pulling across her face as the light from these flashes were blinding. Grace leaned with her back against the edge of the sink and gulped down the glass of water. 

Just as she finished, a shrill ring came from the left–the landline. Grace eyed it for a moment, skepticism furrowing her brow. 

“Can you grab that, Gracie?” Charlie yelled from the living room. Grace took one more beat and then shot her arm out for the phone. She felt like she knew who it was before she even answered it. 

“Swan residence.” Her voice was smoother, but with a lower cadence to it, smokey and soft. 

“Grace.” 

Silence. Breath caught in her throat cutting her means to speech. 

“Grace?” Billy’s familiar, warm voice echoed on the other end. 

“Yes. Hi.” Grace finally managed to push out. 

“It’s good to hear your voice. I’ve been meaning to come by the house and see you but our truck is having some issues running. Jake is fixing it, but I wanted to see how you were settling it.” His voice was tinged with emotion, she could hear it. She could feel it, even as far away from the rez as she was. She could feel it and she could feel a pull coming from the other line. 

“I- I’m fine Billy, thanks for checking in.” her voice slightly cracked as she spoke his name out loud. 

“Oh, Gracie-” It seemed like he could feel her emotions too. It was too much. Right now it was way too much. 

“Listen, thanks for calling, but I was just about to start cooking dinner and I have some reading to catch up on. School’s starting soon and I want to be on top of things...for mom. So I- I have to go.” The words hurried out and away from her like a runaway train. If she paused for too long, a sob would overwhelm her and she didn’t want that to happen. 

“Right. Listen, about school….If you wanted to come to school on the rez, it might be an easier transition. You know you’d be welcome and it might be good to reconnect-”

“Thanks Billy, but I really have to go.” She hung up. Guilt flooded through her instantly. Her hand hovered over the rehooked receiver for a moment before she pulled away and jerked open the fridge. 

“Charlie, you hungry?” She yelled from the kitchen, trying to practice control in her voice. 

“Uh, yeah, sure! Thanks Grace.” he called back. 

She wiped one fallen tear from her cheek and got to work. 

-----

August 

The first week of school was upon her. She had been trying to clear the jitters rushing through her for the past month. 

July had passed without incident and August was much of the same. Bella had invited her to go hiking a couple of times and they even went to Port Angeles for a bookstore run together. Edward had made himself scarce since that first day they had met. Grace had been concerned at first and worried that she had offended him somehow or that he didn’t like her. 

During her trip to Port Angeles with Bella, she asked her about it. 

“What do you mean?” Bella asked, feigning surprise. 

“I mean, I don’t know, I just haven’t really seen him. You always skip off to be with him and by the time I come downstairs he’s like halfway out the door. Is it something I said?” Grace placed a loose piece of hair behind her ear. She had opted for pulling her hair up into a messy bun and some pieces hung in strands around her face. 

“Grace, that’s definitely not what’s happening.” Bella responded, shaking her head and smiling. Grace narrowed her eyes. 

“Then what’s happening?” She asked. Intuitive as usual. Bella tripped over an uneven step in the sidewalk and looked down abruptly. When she looked up, she pointed to a shop ahead of them. 

“Let’s check out this place!” Grace had let it go for now, but she realized that there was definitely a reason he was keeping her distance. She just wasn’t sure why. 

----

The Sunday night before her first day at Forks High, Grace was in the bathroom braiding her hair into two soft plaits. She wanted to make a good impression and part of any good impression at a new school was making sure you only stood out in good ways. 

For Grace, one of the best features she liked about herself was her hair. She understood how typical that was, but it was something that connected her to everything she wished to forget and yet she loved it. Her black hair was shiny and coarse and it fanned out around her face announcing itself first as her most prominent feature. It fell straight down her back most often, but in the damp of Forks, her hair had a slight wave to it which she could enhance using braids her mother taught her when she was younger. 

Her mother loved her hair and had spent countless hours throughout her childhood combing it with her fingers and a brush and braiding it expertly through her slender fingers. 

Grace caught her eyes in the mirror and slowly combed through the loose ends of her hair with her fingers, carefully braiding each piece. Bella climbed the steps and rested in the doorframe of the open bathroom. 

“Hey, so Edward usually gives me a ride to school in the mornings, but I was thinking we could just take my truck since it’s your first day. Sound good?” 

Grace turned and gave her a quick smile. “Yeah, thanks.” 

More confirmation of him avoiding her. Well, he couldn’t avoid her forever, they had AP Chem together. 

The morning drive into school was easy, if a little dreary. The hum of Bella’s truck was comforting. Bella had promised to show her around to her classes and introduce her to the group of friends she had at school. I was surprised when she mentioned friends other than Edward seeing as she only ever spent time with him that summer. Regardless, Grace would be thankful for new people. 

When they parked, Bella’s eyes rested over Edward’s Volvo parked a few rows away. He was waiting on the steps for her. A light drizzle began misting from the sky. Bella couldn’t help but smile and Grace couldn’t help but feel happy for her. This guy, however intense, seemed to bring out the brightest parts of Bella. 

They both popped open their doors simultaneously and slung their bags over their shoulder. Grace smoothed down the frizz forming on her wavey black hair and was pulling her sleeves down when she heard  joyful exclamation from Bella. 

“Jake!” Grace’s head shot up and her eyes darted around the parking lot. Maybe this was some school friend. But once Grace rested her eyes on the warm, broad figure of Jacob Black, she knew who Bella was addressing. 

Though taken by surprise, Grace couldn’t help but feel a warm, calm pulse through her. Bella bounded toward Jake and Grace hesitated. Jake cracked an overwhelming smile, emanating glee as Bella threw her whole body at him to catch despite the raised looks she was getting. He embraced her and Grace, head up, clutching her backpack trudged forward on the weight pavement. 

“What are you doing here?” Bella asked, the smile still plastered across her face. He returned the smile in kind and nodded toward Grace, only glancing briefly at her before gluing his eyes back to Bella. 

“My Dad wanted me to drop off a good luck gift for Grace, so I thought I’d swing by.” Bella blew out a breath of happy air and peered around Jake to meet Edward’s gaze. Jake looked over his shoulder, unimpressed and seemingly undisturbed. Edward was keeping his face smooth, but Grace could feel what felt like jealousy coming from his eyes. Bella hesitated and then patted Jake on the arm and with a “It was good to see you, come by soon!” she skipped off across the parking lot, leaving Grace facing a towering Jake. 

“Hey,” his voice was friendly, warm, uninvested. Grace pulled her backup up a little bit, her eyes falling to the ground. 

“Hey” she returned. 

“You haven’t come by the rez. My dad was hoping you’d stop by.” he relayed coolly. 

“Yeah, sorry. Just been busy getting ready for my new life.” She gestured around her. Jake smirked. 

“Right, well anyway. I’ve been tasked with dropping this off.” He unfurled his right hand before her. In it was an intricately braided cedar bracelet, dotted with green and auburn bloodstone. Grace’s mouth automatically fell open at the incredible detail woven through the patterned bracelet. This was something her father once showed her how to make when she was little but the art of it escaped her now. 

“Wow.” she breathed. She could feel tears coming to her eyes  and took a step back to look up at Jake to steady herself. She didn’t know why, but this felt like what she needed. To look upon a familiar face, like her own and feel the pull of home and it’s comfort. Jake held her gaze for a moment, his dark eyes swimming with mystery. 

“Here.” He closed the gap between them and deftly encircled her wrist with the bracelet. He tied it off with a quick braid, mirroring the pattern of the bracelet and then gently raised her wrist and lowered his head to meet it. She could feel his warm breath move across the delicate skin of her wrist and just the hint of his lips brushing the base of her palm as he took the long loose thread in his mouth and bit it clean off. 

“There.” He smiled, satisfied with his work and letting her hand go quickly. 

Grace couldn’t take her eyes from the bracelet for a bit as she tried to hush the well of emotion budding inside her. She took a deep breath and smiled up at Jake, feeling more whole than she had in awhile. 

“Thanks.” 

“Of course.” he shoved his hands in his pocket taking a step back and retreating somewhat. “Come by sometime. I don’t know how long I can keep Billy at bay with these faulty repairs I’m pulling.” He ducked his head and jogged off waving to Bella as he passed. 

Faulty repairs? Was he buying her time? But why? She watched him disappear down the street toward his Rabbit and hop in a drive off. Every cell in her body felt pulled in the direction Jake was driving off in, but Grace planted her feet, wrenched her gaze up to meet Bella’s and a seemingly bristled Edward, and moved toward the high school. 

This can work. She repeated to herself. It had to. 

[ellewords]

you cannot tell me that oikawa doesn’t look for opportunities like that at parties! the second he hears the words “sorry, i need some air” or sees a cute person heading to the balcony, he can’t help but immediately feel like it’s the chance of a lifetime. it probably doesn’t turn into anything more than a pleasant conversation and a silent pouting session when it doesn’t pan out, but this boy would see you (you specifically, elle) and be like “ahhhh, my chance arises!!!” and run after you before stumbling at the doors and trying to look like he too just needed some air and not like he was hoping to fall in love in a cliche meet-cute moment.

kageyama would probably fall into it accidentally. would need air, too, so he ends up on the same balcony but is much more nervous with only one person around than the crowd. silently trying to figure out what to do, but you’d speak to him sort of apprehensively until he’d ease up and he’d suddenly be flustered for a different reason.

sakusa would be out on the balcony first. would try to suddenly move away if you stood too close (not because he thinks you’re gross or anything, but still overwhelmed by the crowd), but he’d speak to you easily enough. when he started getting comfortable with you, he’d pull his mask down and he’d smile at you, and it would be game over.

suga is like a prince: stumbles upon the right place at the right time and eases up any tension you had just by being charming and a menace and teasing the shit out of you while simultaneously making you feel better. by the end of the moment on the balcony, he’d be looking at you like he’d known you his whole life, and if either of you walk away without the promise of keeping in touch, it feels like a piece is missing in your chest.

tendou would come to check on you even if he was having a great time at the party. just wants to make sure that you’re alright, promising whoever he’s leaving behind that he’ll be right back, but he ends up staying by your side on the balcony until your sides hurt from laughing and your cheeks hurt from the faces you’re making. even if you aren’t in the middle of the party, he makes you feel like you’re the life of it.

-tiktok anon

[ context : this post ]

it's like you want me to go all tender feral aaaaa >_< pls pls I wanna go to a party and have them follow me out so bad it actually hurts ;-; anyways more of my thoughts under the cut bec you've turned me soft ;-; thank you thank you <33

oikawa : please, he's the one who throws the party and invites his crush so he could have this one very specific moment. he keeps his distance for most of the night but when he hears his crush go "I'm gonna go get some air" he's just !!!! and iwa is in the corner face palming while makki and mattsun gives him encouraging pats on the back. waits a couple minutes before he goes out, whatever ounce of confidence he had is thrown out the second he steps outside,, palms vv sweaty but he's sweet

kageyama : awe baby boy thought he'd be alone so he was certainly shocked when he sees another person out ;-; probably very curt responses until he feels himself growing more comfortable and then *boom* blushing mess,,, would very very shyly and hesitantly ask for that person's number by the end of the night

sakusa : "crowd got too much?" / "yeah." / "I understand that." ; okay so like the first couple minutes would be v awkward because neither of you actually know each other ?? but then he doesn't see himself going back in for a while so he might as well make conversation, yk? it's all friendly and polite, sakusa doesn't really think too much into it. but if the other person asked for his number, he wouldn't really mind. he'll just pull the mask down and give a lil smile <33

suga : please you could have never met him before but he's talking like you've been friends for years,, very early notices that you weren't feeling the best so he tries to make you forget all of that by telling the dumbest jokes in existence all while giving a few flirty pickup lines here and there,, made a vow to himself that he wouldn't leave without you cracking a few laughs and you number in his phone

tendou : really just wants to make sure that everyone's having fun :// so even if he’s living it up, if he notices one person gone he goes immediately to check in on them <33 this man already has an arsenal of jokes up his sleeve and will not rest until you assure him that you’re okay,, would 100 percent give you a quick hug (he’d ask if it’s okay first tho) before heading back in :))

[staggeringsmite]

two options depending on what vibes better: tattoo/flower shop au or Oops! All Theater Kids au

i am a sucker for a tattoo/flower shop au (14) kristen and (17) sandra lynn

“...Mac sweetie we don’t have to love em’, but the least we can do is be hospitable”

“By sending them flowers? Donna we’re practically inviting them in!”

With an exasperated groan Kristen removed the pillow from her head that did nothing to drown out the days-old argument her parents were hashing out in the kitchen. Summer heat clambered in through her open window, and between the sounds of traffic and the occasional dog barking from the surrounding apartments downtown Elmville nestled into a peaceful lull before the nighttime crowd arrived. She rolled over to find the source of her parents disagreement as a few trucks and a beat up van rested in front of a freshly lettered sign in jagged, bold, black print which read “Insatiable Tattoos” directly across the street from the quaint, yet equally menacing from the outside in, “Apple’s Bees” flower shop. A few kids Kristen’s age sat around the van, piled along the curb in various states of exhaustion but laughing as if their tiredness were nothing, moving boxes long forgotten in their hands.  

The adults filed out of the building for what must have been their tenth trip to the cars piling on boxes and having exhausted any hope of getting their kids to help. In the masses that Kristen had observed coming and going from the shop plaza and the apartment complex above it, she still couldn’t truly tell who or how many families were involved, but it seemed from her vantage that the entire overhead was now dedicated to these people, much to her parent’s dismay.

An eruption of laughter filled the street below as the group of teens fell over each other affectionately, no worries or cares, abandoned responsibilities in the harsh beat of the sun.

Had her dad’s voice always been that loud?

Kristen got out of bed.

She moved from her bedroom door to the front door of their apartment in a flash, barely looking in the direction of the kitchen as she said. “I’m taking them the flowers!”

Slipping her lanyard around her neck, apartment key and camp cards and flower keychain and was gone before she heard a response.

The bouquet was measly where she found it, wilted and simple, a curt unwelcome greeting. She threw it out, replacing the bland structure with vibrant yellow and orange lilies, stand-out against the freckles on her hands. Her calligraphy wasn’t as good as her mother’s, but in her own scrawl she dotted “A Warm Welcome from the Applebee’s” and set out across the street.

The group of teens were lost in their own way as she passed them, entering the parlor with the loud ringing of a bell behind her. Heavy rock surrounded her as two larger guys worked on a speaker system in the back, a werewolf in a cardigan and the demonic figure her parents hated so much.

“Can I help you?” An Elven woman appeared from behind the counter, hair pulled into a tight blonde ponytail, balancing a moving box on her hip as she simultaneously unloaded items onto the counter and looked up a Kristen.

“I, uh-”

The sudden reality of the world she had just stepped into took over all at once as the speakers cut in and out of the blaring rock n’ roll.

“These are for you they’re from Applebees I’m Kristen Apple’s Bee’s, well, wait, no these are from Apple’s Bees. I’m Kristen Applebees. Apple’s Bees is the flower shop-I’m Kristen. Welcome to the neighborhood.” Completely unmortified by the string of words that just came out of her mouth Kristen smiled at the woman and held out the flower arrangement.

The Elven woman blinked back at her for a moment, hand hovering over a series of mismatched photo albums she was about to take out.

“Well, I’m Sandra Lynn. It’s nice to meet you. If you want you can set those down right over there, and we really appreciate it.” Sandra Lynn gestured to a counter by the front windows, and Kristen moved as directed.

“Hey Tracks did Sandra Lynn give you the money for ice cream yet?”

“Not yet!” A girl a little older than Kristen made her way down the stairs as voices erupted free-flowing throughout the parlor.

“Jawbone I thought you were gonna give it to her!”

“Well, I’m a little busy right now.” The werewolf donning the cardigan was in a mess of cords as the demon man continued messing with the speaker system.

“I’ll take care of it!” A Goblin woman who had been hanging tattoo spreads along the walls stepped down from her chair and reached for her purse.

“Hey, we’re sending some of our kids on a little ice cream run since they’re about useless in terms of moving.” Sandra Lynn chuckled, moving from behind the counter and fishing through the box. “Maybe you could join them?” She stopped and smiled at her.

For a moment Kristen thought about her parents, nervously fidgeting with the apartment key around her neck, but before she could excuse herself, she felt someone link arms with her and begin to drag her out the door. The girl older than her yelled down the street to the group around the van.

“Hey guys this is Kristen she’s coming to get ice cream with us!”

She gave Kristen a look that read like it was her last chance to get out of this, but Kristen had already made up her mind.

---

one big mansion but it’s a series of apartments over top a tattoo parlor which is now a complicated multi-family business don’t ask me how it works

[second-chance-stray]

RP Log: Cravendy meets Lin! I think both of them have a terrible time.

Cravendy Hound woke up two days prior, and has spent those days awkwardly exploring the company while simultaneously avoiding all of its members. Finally, she understands what has happened in her absence...a very basic understanding, at least. The details are far too many to untangle at the moment.

Cravendy Hound has left a note on Lin’s door, inviting her to meet at one of the Lavender Bed islands. She waits on the bench absolutely terrified. Outwardly, this unintentionally translates into a menacing aura. Fists clenched, eyes dark, looking pissed off as hell.

Aislinn North It was a day with no work to be done. For most people, that would be a cause to celebrate. Right now, at this point in time, for Aislinn, it's a nightmare. Nyscera's people and Bertram, all of them had conspired against her. Sweeping the paperwork from her desk, aiding her in the clinic, leaving her with no escape. Work was the distraction used to keep her thoughts from looking back. Like a colorful toy you waved in front of a child to keep their attention where you wanted it. However, there was one piece of parchment left for her on her now far-too-clean desk. A note. She turned her head to the sound of approaching footsteps, the blood promptly draining from her face as she read it over. What in the Seven Hells was this? She fought back a litany of curses. No. She wasn't doing this today. She couldn't do this today. However, underneath the note was another's handwriting. Bertram had written something. And whatever he had penned had her out here, in the rain, making her way to this damned meeting. She caught sight of the familiar silhouette as she approached and immediately felt her throat go dry. As she drew closer, she realized the look was all wrong. The anger, the glaring eyes. Nothing about this....person was Wyda. She came to stand wordlessly just under the gazebo's shelter. She simply couldn't find anything to say.

Cravendy Hound similarly feels her heart sink when Lin steps into view. There is no plan, no eloquent speech prepared. Hells, she doesn’t even have a rough idea of what she wants to talk about. But she feels like she has to say something - anything - for both of their sakes. And yet, words fail her. The silence stretches between two of them like a widening fissure, and it feels unsurmountable. Gods, what was she thinking?

Cravendy Hound gets up. Why did she do that? Now she’s standing! She moves to sit back down, but wouldn’t that be more awkward? Cravendy freezes in a half-squat for a second until finally deciding to throw caution to the wind. Hells. She’s got the nerves of a kid on stage for the first time, but at least things can only get better...right?

Cravendy Hound strides over to Lin, grabs her shoulder, sits her down on a bench, and then takes a seat across from her. Okay, pieces in place. Things should happen now. Aaaanytime now. “.....................................”

(Aislinn North) ((Awww! OKay, this has me laughing! xD)) (Cravendy Hound) xD!! )) (Cravendy Hound) cravs has 0 braincells 0 plans. the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in many ways ))

Aislinn North eyes flared widely as Cravendy grabbed hold of her shoulders, clearly taking umbrage at being maneuvered into place by a person she knows is a total stranger. Unfortunately, her still-healing injuries leave her unable to swiftly move out of the way in time and she finds herself plopped on the nearby bench instead. "Nymeia's bloody britches." she muttered, returning the Seawolf's glare with one of her own. "Starting to think I might have been better off wandering another circle around the House." In all honesty, it's the most emotion she's displayed since the events of that horrible day.

Cravendy Hound: “Aye, you an’ me both. Suppose we got that in common? Not wantin' to be ‘ere. Today being a weird an’ unpleasant day.” Cravendy tries to laugh and her voice cracks from high to low. Twelve have mercy, her expressions are not fully her own yet. Her face reddens and her scowl only deepens. “M-mud an’ shite! Been more than a year since I last spoke, I promise I ain’t like this normally...”

Aislinn North "I'll have to take your word on that." came Aislinn's rapid fire retort. She had clearly reached 'Anger' along her trip through the five stages of grief. But even she can hear the bite in her words and knows they're misdirected. She looked away, out over the water as a war waged within her chest. Logically, what happened wasn't Cravendy's fault. It also wasn't Cravendy's fault she woke up. She just did. Logically, Aislinn knew all of this. She just didn't like it. "....It'll get easier, I'm sure." she finally, grudgingly allowed. That felt alright to say. That felt safe.

Cravendy Hound winces slightly, but the bite in Lin’s voice feels deserved. It isn’t as if she’s unaware of what has happened in the past year. In dreams you can become another on the flip of a dime...She’s in possession of memories that are both hers, and not hers. She shakes her head.

Cravendy Hound: “Don’t go easy on me. I know what happened. The mess I caused.” She  crosses her arms and...my god. She was never going to get used to how after waking up, she suddenly had the toned body of a fistfighter. God, everything is so weird. “...An’ I won’t go easy on ye. Ye look like shite, an’ ye look like ye can stand to get somethin’ off yer chest.

(Cravendy Hound) sleep is the most powerful workout xD )) (Aislinn North) ((God, I wish that were true! lol!))

Aislinn North shot the Seawolf a swift, dry look out of the corner of her eye. "You're looking for someone to unload on you, aren't you?" she shrewdly assessed. "Did you? Cause this mess? I mean, did you mean to summon..." her voice caught, stumbled over the word. "the primal?"

Cravendy Hound: “Personally, could do without. But when ye do somethin’ wrong, an’ ye don’t get what ye deserve then...well, I’d be wonderin’ whether or not I was still dreamin’.” Her jaw set, tight. To Lin’s second point, she found herself at a loss for words. Part of her wanted to absolve herself of guilt and claim it wasn’t her fault. A half-truth to make everyone feel better, and one that she knew would gnaw away at her heart like all of her other white lies. No...She literally died following this creed. She had to carry on differently, no matter how uncomfortable.

Cravendy Hound: “....It was unintentional. But what I did leadin’ up to it was my fault.”

Cravendy Hound: “Accident or not, I made a right mess of things. If hatin’ me will make ye feel better, then I’ll gladly bear it.” Hair fell in front of her face as she let out a short breath.

Aislinn North "How could I hate you? I don't *know* you." Aislinn replied. "And that's an awful lot of wasted energy, in my experience." She grew quiet as she mulled over Cravendy's words. For a long stretch the only sound was the rain drumming against the roof of the gazebo. She saw what she was trying to do. Get all the information and assemble it into something that made sense. That gave her answers. And what would answers do now? They wouldn't change the outcome. "You're right though...you did make a mess of things." she said with blunt honesty. "And we're all just going to have to learn to live with it. Not all of us are going to manage...*well*"

Cravendy Hound’s brows knitted together. She was partly relieved to hear that she wasn’t going to be immediately hated by Lin. Dream-friend or no, it was definitely something she could do without. But the other half of her was frustrated at the existence of yet another problem that she caused, that she couldn’t fix at once.

Cravendy Hound: “Maybe ye don’t know me, and maybe I don’t know ye, but whether ye like it or not, I’m ‘ere for you. Because...” Cravendy pauses. Because what? She feels selfish for saying anything at all. If her goal isn’t closure, then what is it? She doesn’t know, and it infuriates her. “...Just because.”

Cravendy Hound: “....................” It dawns on her that she hasn’t introduced herself. Shit, is it too late to bring it up now? She simmers in anxiety and, as usual, it comes across as looking like she’s about to fight something.

Aislinn North sat back sharply, caught up short. Clearly, she wasn't ready for that. She looked away. Her fingers tapped out a quick rhythm against her leg, her jaw squared. How many times did it take for her to learn this particular lesson? Cracking herself open again and again only to lose people. No. *This* time she would get it. *This* she'd learn. Upon glancing back at Cravendy, her dark musings fly from her. The woman looked like she wanted to punch something. Aislinn tensed. "Alright, there?" ...she asked uncertainly.

(Cravendy Hound) xD )) (Aislinn North) ((Lin's wondering if she's gonna have to dodge and roll xD))

Cravendy Hound narrows an eye as she reads Lin’s expression. Shit, looks like she’s closing up. But then again, what other outcome could she expect? Thrust herself in her life and expect immediate and full reconciliation? Of course not. Cravendy doesn’t know Lin either, and maybe never seeing each other would be the best path to take...but it feels wrong to see her like this. It just does.

Cravendy Hound: “It’s not alright! I...I wake up after tryin’ to end things and I guess things are better? But worse at the same time? I’m still where I was a year ago an...” She cuts off her outburst. Piss n’ wind, just another way to further alienate Lin. “‘SCUSE ME.”

Cravendy Hound gets up, dunks herself under the water and yells at the top of her lungs. When she comes back, she looks spent. “Should’ve said this at the beginnin’, but I’m Cravendy. And I’m...I’m just losing me mind! Haha. That’s a...a joke.”

(Cravendy Hound) i dont know whether to laugh or cry )) (Aislinn North) ((ohhhhh...I think this is one of those times where its just both!)) (Cravendy Hound) both? both. xD )) (Aislinn North) ((xD)) (Aislinn North) ((Also did she just go and pitch herself into the water, or just her head?)) (Cravendy Hound) LOL she stepped into the water, slams herself completely underwater, and then came back )) (Aislinn North) ((lol! Got it!)) (Cravendy Hound) lmao i dont know which would give off more of an insane person vibe. if she crawled on the wood and dunked just her head in the water versus what she actually did )) (Aislinn North) ((lol! Oy, that's true! Six of one, I suppose))

Aislinn North As the woman let loose on her, Aislinn realized the turn of phrase she's used since childhood may have been misconstrued. She sat in stunned silence after watching Cravendy pitch herself into the lake. She'd get up but at the moment, in her condition, that seemed like too much of a chore. "I didn't..." it was all for the best as Cravendy immediately returned and squelched back down on the bench. "It's just...something I say. Of course nothing about this is alright." she let go a breath. "Cravendy...I gathered that. From the note you left me." A part of her had to admire someone who could do exactly what they felt like doing. She, herself, had been holding in a scream for days. She looked forward to when she could pick up her pistol again and target shoot. She had always been better at letting her gun snarl and growl for her. "And like I said, it's not an easy thing. But it'll get easier."

Cravendy Hound sits in wet, miserable silence. Her hair, once a dense tangle resembling a pine tree, is now slicked down against her face and shoulders. And she’s godsdamned grateful for looking like a mess right now, as it hides the tears and redness in her eyes. She’s not some whelp to be pitied, she’s a tough pirate that shoots first and asks questions later! Used to be, anyway. Cravendy sniffs once. Must be the cold.

Cravendy Hound: “Hah, ah...No.” She takes a bundle of hair in her hand and wrings water out of it. It’s a little salty. “Yeah. No...No? No.”

Cravendy Hound: “........Aye.”

Aislinn North tipped her head as she listened to Cravendy argue. Though whether it was with Aislinn or herself, the highlander couldn't be sure. "Aye." she affirmed. "Because there's no other option." she spoke like someone who knew that was the way of it.

Aislinn North After a pause, she slowly pulled herself to her feet. "I'll be heading back to the House now. Not that anyone has left me much of anything to do...but still." she sighed. She hesitated a moment, studying Cravendy. Feeling torn in several directions all at once. "Come back up when you're ready. No sense sitting in wet clothes for very long."

Cravendy Hound sighs. Well, that went swimmingly. She shrugs her shoulders and lets Lin go, preferring to unwind in the privacy of this lonely island for now.

[soahappylowman]

Leather Knight (Happy Lowman x Reader)

Summary: You were with Happy for months before his sudden death - except one day he shows up on your door to save you.  Warnings: Talk of Domestic Abuse, Sort of Character Death???  Word Count: 3,225 Note: So this started out as something a little different. I got an idea of Happy being with a woman and then leaving her because he had to transfer and she believes that he is dead until he comes back to Tacoma for something. Kind of based on Traveling Solider by the Dixie Chicks if you could see the inspo. As I started writing and developing it, it turned into this instead. Either way, Happy is literally my fav and I obviously love to write for him so if you guys could let me know what you think that’d be lit.  -----

You would be lying if you said that you didn’t still think about Happy. For someone who was in your life for a short period of time, he sure did leave a lasting impression. You had met Happy when you began working as a bartender in a bar that the SAMTAC crew frequented. At first you gave a lot of space to the club members, understanding enough that they were dangerous even if you didn’t know the full story. You ended up with Happy by accident really.

You were working late one night at the bar when your piece of shit car broke down. Happy was the last one in the bar that night and offered you a ride home. You invited him in to be nice and ended up on your back approximately three minutes later experiencing the best, yet wildest sex you’ve ever had in your life. It become an addiction after that. Any and every time you had a chance to be with Happy you took it. Late after work, in the back during work, early mornings before he had to leave for “club business”. It had gone on for a good amount of time for someone in a club like him. A little more than six months. You were together all the time to the point where the other club members were keeping tabs on you. You were even occasionally referred to as “Happy’s Girl”. At first you corrected them, but towards the end you kind of liked the ring to it and stopped trying.

It all came to an abrupt end when suddenly Happy stopped turning up out nowhere. None of the other guys would tell you where he was or what happened. It took about three days when Kozik finally came to your apartment door to tell you Happy had died. You knew the club was dangerous, but never really knew much about it. You didn’t ask Happy and he didn’t offer any information.

You were so crushed at first, you couldn’t get out of bed. You had tried to quit your job as a bartender but the owner insisted on holding for you for when you were ready to come back. You genuinely thought you were going crazy for a few months after his death. There were a few times that you thought you saw him with the other boys in the club when they would ride by in a large group, or you thought you saw him ducking into the club house at late hours when you would drive by after work was done (when you eventually went back).

It was a hard decision to move on, as part of you felt a hole in your chest without being with Happy but you told yourself that you weren’t really with him in the first place. You two never explicitly talked about being together, save for one late night after enjoying each other’s company late into the night, he said “I don’t want you taking any other dick” in the truly romantic Happy way. You had responded with “then I don’t want you giving dick to anyone else”. He grunted an agreement in response and that was the end of that. You both never talked about it again, but that didn’t make you his “old lady” as some of the other guys referred to their girlfriends as. You didn’t know much about Happy personally, only that he had a sick mother (who you worry about despite the fact that you’ve never met her). You even ask Kozik what would happen to her, in which you were reassured that she was being taken care of.

Unfortunately you were still recovering from loosing someone you weren’t entirely sure that you could cry over in the first place that you didn’t notice the red flags in the man you had started dating. At first it started with control problems, always needing to know where you were, who you were with, when you were coming home. Then it upgraded to going through your phone and accusing you of cheating every time he so much as saw a man’s name other than his in your phone. It progressed further to emotionally abuse. He would tell you that you weren’t good enough to be with him as you were a dirty bartender. He would go after your looks and tell you how fat you had gotten. He would scream at you if you were brought up Happy or expressed a sadness over his death still. It eventually went to physical violence. It got to the point that if you were to show up for shifts at the bar, you were fully clothed despite the fact that the bar didn’t have a good A/C system. You wouldn’t look anyone in the eye anymore and you certainly stopped talking to the members of SAMTAC. If they asked questions, you deferred back to being sad over Happy which had worked for a while. On nights that it became so hard to deal with this new man and the pain of missing Happy you would call his old number, just to hear his voice message. You were surprised it was still active, but you dreaded the day it would eventually be shut off.

---------

You were in the kitchen trying to keep your head down as he yelled at you. You were itching to grab the broom in the closet to the left to clean the mess that he had created but you knew better than to move when you were being yelled at. He had already managed to break two dishes, two glasses, throw a beer bottle at the wall by your head and knock the flower vase off the kitchen table. This argument was a particularly bad one. Kozik had confronted your boyfriend about abusing you despite the fact that you never said anything to Kozik. Your boyfriend made a big show to look offended and you knew that it would get worse when you got home. Here you are now, currently being told that you would never find someone to love you like he does, and for where you were in life you believed him. It was moments like this that remembering Happy made things easier for you. Happy was a rough guy but he was never rough with you.

In the middle of his tirade, in which you still had your head down, a pounding came at the door. It was so forceful, it stopped your boyfriend in his tracks. He grumbled something about not expecting people and how dropping by was just rude. As soon as he opened the door, the was immediately knocked to the ground.

You had moved to help him off the ground when the figure stepped through the door way with a gun in hand. You nearly collapsed when you recognized Happy.

“Get up.” His voice was raw and rough and you froze at the sound of it.

“Who the hell are you?” Your boyfriend began to stand but was roughly grabbed by his collar and forced to lean against the kitchen counter, Happy pressed the tip of his gun against his temple. Happy didn’t say anything or look up at you, although you still couldn’t move.

“Happy?” You took a step towards Happy, leaning over your boyfriend in a menacing manner.

“Happy? As in your ex that died? What the hell?” You boyfriend was desperately trying to get a grip on Happy to get him to release while simultaneously looking between you and the Son standing in front of you.

“Did you put your hands on her?” Happy’s gaze was unwavering. There was a long silence.

“I said, did you put your hands on her. Think about your answer carefully.” Happy pressed his weapon further into your boyfriend’s temple.

“What? No that’s ridiculous, I would never.” Your boyfriend’s voice was so high, you would think he never hit puberty. Happy pulled back on the hammer.

“I’m going to ask you one more time, did you put your hands on her?” You sensed the immediate danger this man was in, and despite all the pain that you had gone through with him alone, there were bigger things you wanted to talk to Happy about like… maybe being alive?

“Happy let him go.” He didn’t move.

“Happy, you need to let him go right now.” You walked over to Happy and put your hands on his arm, pulling him away from your boyfriend. Happy looked up, staring into your eyes and you swear your heart stopped. The tears started down your face, causing Happy to pull away.

Your boyfriend got up from the floor, staring between you and Happy.

“What the hell is going on?” Happy put the hammer back in place without looking anywhere but you.

“Go.” You boyfriend hesitated for a moment, causing Happy to turn and look at him.

“I said go, I’ll deal with you later.” Happy turned around and grabbed your boyfriend by the collar, pushing him to the door and shutting and locking it on him.

The second that door closed and locked, you felt like the air in the room went with it. You began to pace back and forth, shaking your head and taking shallow breaths. It felt as though someone had just stepped right on your chest and wouldn’t get off. Seeing Happy set you off because he was definitely not supposed to be here. If he’s alive then Kozik lied. If Kozik lied then Happy left. Happy left you. Happy didn’t want you to be with him, but instead of breaking up with you or whatever, he told you that he died. His sudden re-appearance had shaken you straight down to your core and with everything that has happened in the past couple months you couldn’t wrap your mind around it. You were very certain that you were about to puke. Steeling yourself for a moment, you turned back to Happy.

“What’s going on?” You were the first to speak, facing Happy fully. Feeling suddenly self-conscious you wrapped your arms around yourself. Happy turned and looked at you but didn’t speak. After a minute, he approached you, gripping your face in his hand gently, examining you for any damages. He won’t find any on your face, that’s for sure.

“Happy, you need to tell me what the hell is going on. I thought you were dead. I mourned you for months.” You grabbed his wrist again, tears still freely flowing. You took this opportunity to look at him too, though he didn’t look much different. He had bags under his eyes, like he was exhausted, and he needed to shave his head a little but Happy looked just like he did before he disappeared on you. That made this all that more confusing.

“I transferred Charters, I moved to the Mother Charter in Charming.” You shook your head.

“That doesn’t explain to me why Kozik told me you died.” Those words felt like acid on your tongue. Kozik told you he died, and he didn’t.

“I didn’t want you to follow me, or have any ties to me. This had gotten messy in SAMCRO with the Irish and I had to move. I didn’t want you involved.” You took a second to think about his words. You released his wrist and pushed him away from you.

“So the solution to your problem was to have someone lie to me that you were dead? Seriously Happy? If you wanted to leave me then you should’ve just left! I was in so much pain at the thought of you being gone forever, it would’ve hurt less to know that you just didn’t want me anymore. How could you possibly do that to me?” You raised your voice, breathing heavily. This was unforgivable to play with you like this.

“It wasn’t like that.” You nearly screamed.

“What do you mean it wasn’t like that? You made up an elaborate lie so that you would never have to see me again! If you hated me that much, why didn’t you just say so?” The sobs escaped your chest before you even knew they were coming. You tried to cover your mouth to lessen the sounds but it made you feel like you couldn’t breathe again.

“Y/N.” Happy stepped to move closer to you, to give you some form of comfort and support but you couldn’t stand the thought of him touching you right now. Even though you had spent months imagining what it was like when he did touch you, or wishing he was still the one in your bed, you couldn’t knowing he hurt you like this.

“Stay away from me Happy.” You bent over, trying to control yourself. Between the sobbing, barely breathing and stress from the night, you felt like you would pass out.

Happy stepped towards you and lifted you upright, rubbing your back and pulling you towards his chest. Despite the fact you literally just told him to stay away from you, you clung to him anyways.

“Will you let me explain?” He grumbled. This man had the audacity to grumble when your world was turned upside down again. You nodded anyways.

“The club’s into pretty heavy shit and there’s things that I do for the club that are very illegal and things that I never want you to know. The mother charter got into some trouble with the Irish gun runners. I had to head to Belfast to get a little boy back. If the Irish new there was someone here that I cared about it meant that you would be in danger, no matter if the boys around here were there to protect you. I figured it would be easier if I was gone for good for you. I still had the boys check up on you occasionally. I listened to all the voicemails that you left me. Including the one where you admitted you loved me,” you squeezed the back of his sweatshirt a little tighter, “and the one that I don’t think you meant to leave where I could hear him beating you in the background.” You stood stiff, unaware that you had even done that.

“You were leaving me a voicemail about how much you missed me, and I could hear him catching you, and how angry he was. I was pretty sure I knew what was happening, so I had Kozik look into it for me. He said he didn’t see you around anymore, and when he did you weren’t the same, but not the grieving kind of different. I told him what I thought was going on and he told me that he confronted the guy and it didn’t go well. I had enough so I came back up here as soon as I could.” With your arms still wrapped around each other, not looking at one another, you stayed silent unsure of what to say.

Happy never told you club business before because it was always dangerous. To know that he’s telling you now compelled you to believe him.

“This is all so very unfair still. I’ll probably be mad at you for the rest of my life about you lying to me about being dead.” Happy grunted, his way of acknowledging that he knew that what he did was wrong.

“So, what happens now?” The real question of whether he was going to leave you again hung in the air. Happy pulled you back to look you in the eyes.

“Come to Charming with me.” He said it with such finality, you were tempted to say yes right away.

“Is that a possibility? I mean… do you want me too?” Happy looked at you for a minute before leaning down and kissing you.

You responded enthusiastically. Wrapping your arms around his neck to lock him down to you. Kissing him again felt like a breath of fresh air, just what you’ve needed after months of no contact whatsoever. You remembered exactly what it was like, what it felt like, what it tasted like. Kissing him again met every fantasy that you had over the past few months. Happy pushed you back into the kitchen island, letting his hands rest on your hips. As eager as you were to pick things right back up from where you left off with Happy, you were worried about the state of your body under your clothes. You were littered with bruises, big and small in all different stages of healing. The pain was manageable, but you didn’t want Happy to see you like this. You pulled away from him.

“Are you gonna stay the night?” You were slightly embarrassed by the desperation in your voice but that was out of your control.

“Wouldn’t dream of leavin’ you again.” Happy leaned down and kissed you again.

“I want to see you naked for more than one reason though.” You were dreading it but you figured he’d find out one way or another.

Later that night, after he had a chance to do a full examination and then appreciation of your body, he assured you that you would not only never hear from your now ex-boyfriend again, but that you would never have to worry about something like this again.

------

A few days later you were pulling into the parking lot of Teller-Morrow Automotive with a duffle bag strapped to your back. You were panicking slightly about moving to a new area and needing to find a new job and friends. You were also nervous to meet the boys in the club in the Mother Charter, based on some of the stories that Happy had shared with you. Happy waited for you to catch up with him before grabbing your hand and pulling you into clubhouse.

Clearly watching Happy walk in hand-in-hand with a woman was a shock to people as it instantly became quiet around the club house. You peaked your head from around the back of Happy where you were half hiding.

“Hey Hap, who you got with you?” A loud man with some crazy curly black hair shouted out.

“My old lady,” That’s all Happy gave. You barely had time to wave to the men before he pulled you towards the back.

Right before you could round the corner, your name was yelled out.

“Hey, Y/N!” You turned abruptly only to see Kozik. A smile instantly landed on your face. Kozik ran up towards you, wrapping you in a hug.

“Y/N, I’m so happy to see you’re safe. Look, I’m really sorry about the other day, I hope I didn’t make it worse for you.” Kozik scratched the back of his head in a sheepish manner. After a second of looking at him, you slapped him. He and everyone else’s shock was evident.

“That was for lying to me about Happy for so long.” Kozik rubbed his cheek and nodded.

“Yeah, I deserved that.” You heard a little chuckle coming from the man behind you.

“I don’t know why you’re laughing Hap, you have a lot of making up and punishment of your own to go through. Show me to your room, big boy.” You put your hand on your hip, your duffle still hanging off your shoulder. Happy smirked.

“Can’t wait.”

[azurefanfics]

A Little Surprise

Pairing: Namjoon x Reader

Genre: fluff

Warnings: fluffiness

Word Count: 2k

A/N: Hello! This is my first fic for this fandom (and the first time I’ve written in about two years) so any feedback will be much appreciated! This is just a short little oneshot for Joon’s birthday that I’m trying to use to ease myself back into writing, I hope you enjoy!

Your husband was heading back to Ilsan for his birthday. It wasn’t often that he was blessed with time off, let alone some that overlapped with his birthday, so he thought it would be a nice change of pace to head back to his home town and spend the day with his family. Unfortunately, work commitments had prevented you from heading to the suburbs with your husband. You had been extremely apologetic and tried your best to get out of it (to no avail) but your husband, being the sweetheart that he is, understood completely. He knew that these trips didn’t happen often, but when they did they were extremely important. The fact that you’d arranged to take the weeks before the meetings off to go on a tour around Europe didn’t hurt either. You two had the time of your lives together, visiting all the tourist destinations, admiring the culture and sampling the food. You went everywhere from Venice to Wein to Copenhagen, soaking in the beauty and the history of the places whilst simultaneously revelling in the relative peace and refreshing anonymity that these destinations had granted you. Your husband’s job has meant that you often struggled to find privacy and couldn’t have dates in public areas. But in these places you were nothing but another young couple strolling through the romantic city, free to do and explore as you pleased. You’d both arrived back in Korea with hearts full of love and memories to last a lifetime. 

A week later, when he was headed to his parents’ without you, he found that he did not feel disappointed but instead immensely grateful for the time you were able to spend together. He hadn’t been able to spend his birthday with his family since pre-debut, so obviously he was welcomed home with open arms. Unbeknownst to him, his sister Kyungmin immediately got down to business and began planning a surprise party. As he spent his days wandering around Ilsan indulging in nostalgia, she was busy gathering supplies, inviting his friends and scheming with you. Although you were on the other side of the world, you had been doing your best to hurry along proceedings at work. You’d rescheduled some meetings and worked gruelling hours for days, often working 18 hour days with no break. Your schedule was jam packed, but you were painfully close to wrapping the deal that had been the goal of this trip. Although you were overworked and certainly on the verge of burning out, it would all be worth it to see the look on Namjoon’s face.

The day of the party arrived quickly, all the preparations had been made and Kyungmin was practically vibrating in anticipation. Namjoon, for his part, was completely oblivious to the plan and was just enjoying the time he had with his family. His members had travelled to Ilsan to spend the day with him, and they spent a good portion of the day hanging out together. Upon their arrival back at your in-laws’ house, Namjoon discovered the place covered in balloons and streamers, and the party was soon in full swing. Your sister in law, knowing Namjoon’s propensity for cute things and how much he adored the Ryan cake you and the members had given him a few years prior, had ordered an adorable Mangnanyong cake, much to his delight. 

With a stomach full of cake and having received gifts from all of his loved ones, Namjoon found himself well and truly content. He was grateful to have so many wonderful friends in attendance, many travelling all the way from Seoul to be there. There were his members (of course), numerous other idols who had taken time out of their busy schedules to be with him, as well as other friends (old and new) from outside the music industry. It was in moments like these that Namjoon felt well and truly loved and thankful for all that he was blessed with in this life. However, it wasn’t long until these thoughts were rudely interrupted by the chaos brought by three of his members.

“It’s your turn to deal with them now, birthday boy” said Yoongi, unceremoniously dumping his hyung and his youngest dongsaeng in front of the other rapper. Suddenly snapped out of the shock of being dragged over, Jungkook bounded towards Namjoon. 

“Hyung, my present was awesome wasn’t it?” His eyes sparkled in anticipation of hearing Joon’s verdict. “Much better than hyung’s right? He always has awful taste for stuff like this!”

Unbeknownst to him, those two had spent the last 10 minutes bickering over whose present was better, driving his other members insane in the process.

“Yah! Has the youth lost all respect for their elders these days? Besides, you know that mine is better, just give it up!” exclaimed Jin.

“A-hem”. Kyungmin cleared her throat, inserting herself into the conversation before her brother could speak up. “I think I’ve definitely got the best gift here”.  

Before either boy could protest, she quickly crossed the room in a few long strides. She pulled on the door and it swung open to reveal you on the other side. Although exhaustion and stress clouded your features, your radiance shone through nonetheless. At the sight of Namjoon, your face smoothed and a brilliant smile overtook your face, causing all the air to be sucked out of his lungs for a moment. Even after all these years, he still found you to be the most beautiful woman in the world. 

“Hey” you greeted softly.

“Y-Y/N? What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be in America still?”

“Yeah I was… But I managed to wrap things up a bit early so here I am” you replied

At that he briskly crossed the room and pulled you into his strong, warm arms. The whole room had stopped to witness the touching reunion, but neither of you took notice as you were both too caught up with the other. You buried your head into his shoulder, breathing in his scent. He smelled of wood and musk and home, and all at once you remembered how much you’d missed him. No matter how many times you’re apart, be it for his tours or promotions or your own work, you were always overcome by a deep yearning for him that could never be satisfied until you were together again. Pulling back, you looked into his eyes and instinctively knew that he was thinking the same thing. You tilted your head up, allowing him to slot your lips together. You fit together like two pieces of a puzzle, after years of being together this kind of affection came naturally to you two. That is until you were interrupted by two sets of gagging noises, causing you both to pull away and blush sheepishly. Kyungmin and Jungkook grinned at each other impishly, before the former dragged you away from Joon. “Now that you’re here, let’s get this party started!”

The next day, you and Joon were strolling through Ilsan, revisiting some of his favourite childhood spots with Monie. Although the dog was quite the tsundere towards your husband, he had no qualms towards showing affection towards you, licking you and yipping loudly whenever you don’t give him enough attention. You were always glad to see the furry friend whenever you visited your in-laws. You and your husband settled yourselves on a bench in the park as the little white menace ran around chasing squirrels and fetching the occasional stick your other half threw.

“Are you enjoying being home?” you asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between you.

“Yeah, it’s been nice seeing my family and catching up with old friends, but it’s even better now that you’re here” he replied. You hummed in response, sinking further into your husband’s arms contentedly. Suddenly remembering what you came out here to do, you tensed, fiddling with your wedding band.

“What’s wrong?” asked Namjoon, sensing the sudden tension that entered your frame. His eyes travelled to your finger, where your hand was still fiddling with the ring. This was a nervous habit of yours since the very first day he presented you with a ring, which only served to compound his concern.

“It’s nothing really, I just…. I just have another present for you”. Last night you had given him a pair of his favourite wireless noise cancelling headphones that were only available in the states. He had broken his last pair on the flight back from Europe and he hated the prospect of having to wait months for another pair to arrive. Songwriting, travel and hell even monster dishwashing sessions were incomplete without them (even if the latter was slightly unsafe given your husband’s clumsiness). When you whipped them out of your bag, his face lit up like it was Christmas day and you promptly won the debate between the members. 

“What? You don’t need to keep spending your money on me, you already got me a trip and those headphones, that’s already way too much!” he exclaimed.

“It’s not really like that. I wanted to do something different for you. I really hope you like it. Besides, it not like I can take all the credit, the boys helped me with it too. Really they probably did most of the work… So yeah” you rambled, before petering out. With that, you pulled out your phone and passed it to him, pressing play.

The video started with soft piano melody playing a soothing lullaby. Pictures of your adventures with Joon, old and new, faded into view. Some of them were ridiculous selfies taken at tourist spots, or pictures taken by managers or one of the boys, but most were charming candids of your husband. Each shot allowed him to see himself through your eyes, and the infinite pool of love you felt for Namjoon was palpable. Even at the most breathtaking of locations, the camera’s focus never wavered from the man in front of you. A soft voice filtered out of the speakers, your voice, singing a lulling melody that he didn’t recognise.

“D-did you write this song?” 

“Yeah. Well I had some help from the boys, but it was mostly written and performed by yours truly”. His eyes met yours with something akin to awe. How is it possible that the woman that he loves with all of his heart could continue to amaze and astound him every day? “I know sometimes on tour you can’t sleep. I was thinking that maybe this might help when you miss us.”

“Us?” he questioned, but you merely smiled and shook your head, before gesturing for him to continue the video. Pictures came and went, everything from your wedding photos to images from the last tour to pictures from your most recent trip together to Europe. As the music slowed and diminuendoed, his breath caught as the final picture faded into view. A positive pregnancy test. His head snapped up hopefully as his eyes brimmed with tears.

“Is it true? You’re… ” he whispered, too scared to say the words aloud. You forced your eyes up from the ground to meet his, nodding. You and your husband had been trying for a baby for a while, but it had been unsuccessful thus far. That didn’t make it any less daunting to tell him the news though. At that, he whooped before picking you up and spinning you around. Monie bounded over at the commotion, yipping and tilting his head curiously.

“I’m going to be a dad!” he exclaimed excitedly, half to you and half to the dog, before crouching down. He placed his hand on your stomach, before placing a kiss there, on top of your t shirt.

“Joon, you’re not going to be able to feel anything yet” you said, giggling at his actions nonetheless.

“I know” he replied, “but I want to do it anyway”. 

“Hi little bean, I’m your dad!” he whispered softly, staring at your stomach. He stood up in one smooth motion, before meeting your eyes. “It’s amazing, you’ve really got a little life we made together in there”.

“It really is” you smiled.

His eyes flickered across your face, soaking in your every detail.

“I love you so much” he whispered, before pulling you in for one more kiss.

[lady-oceana9518]

Here For You (A Hazbin Hotel Fanfic)

A/N: Hey y’all, here’s another little story featuring my Hazbin OC, Morgana, the direwolf shifter. This fic features lots of fluffy times between Wolf!Morga and Vaggie. I haven’t been feeling the greatest emotionally speaking today, so I wrote this in an effort to comfort myself a little. I hope you guys enjoy it too. Let me know what you think of the story and/or my wolfy girl Morga😊

~~~~

Today...hadn’t been Morgana’s best day. She woke up that morning with a bone-deep tiredness that she couldn’t shake, even though she had a good night’s sleep the night before. She didn’t feel happy, or angry, or overwhelmingly sad...just, numb.

Charlie and Vaggie were out running errands around town with Razzle and Dazzle, which Morga knew because of a note that Vaggie had left on her bedside table earlier that morning. They should be back later that afternoon, she wrote. Angel was out entertaining one of his regular clients; Niffty was flitting around the hotel cleaning, as usual, like a manic hummingbird; Alastor was working in his office, awaiting his mate Charlie’s return; and Husk was tending the bar in the lobby (while successfully becoming more and more intoxicated himself as the day wore on). Morga had a rare day off from her teaching duties. She was too exhausted to want to do, well, just about anything, but she at least wanted to get out of her room at some point for a little change in scenery. She also didn’t particularly want to socialize with anyone.

The solution to her little dilemma seemed obvious. She would simply remain in her direwolf form for the rest of the day. After locking the door to her room behind her, Morga shifted effortlessly into her wolf form. She shook out her black-brown fur and stretched her wings, which were reminiscent of a snowy owl’s, then trotted down to the lobby.

She passed right by Husk’s bar, and of course didn’t go unnoticed by the surprisingly-observant bartender. “Hey wolfy, bout time you showed up!” Husk snickered, slurring his words a bit. Morga would normally have some kind of retort ready to go but was absolutely not in the mood for his, or anyone’s, teasing today. She growled at him, the sound a deep, menacing rumble emanating from her chest.

Husk jumped, more than a little surprised at the normally mild-mannered and mischievous wolf. “ ‘Ey, what the fuck was that for??” In response, Morga glared at him over her shoulder and bared her teeth, not even breaking stride as she continued on toward the fireplace.

As luck would have it, there was a roaring fire blazing merrily in the newly-refurbished grand fireplace. It was oh-so inviting and looked like the perfect place for a nap. Morga wasted no time in trotting over to the rug in front of the fireplace, circling a few times, and flopping onto her side. She yawned and allowed her heavy eyelids to flutter closed over her leaf-green eyes.

Some time later, which in reality turned out to be several hours later, Morga became aware of a few different voices conversing quietly nearby.

“I’m tellin’ ya, she’s got a stick up her ass about somethin’ today. Been all wolfed out the whole time too. Maybe wolfy’s finally going feral,” Husk grumbled, taking a swig from his ever-present bottle of booze.

Charlie hummed uncertainly, her worried gaze flickering over to Morga’s dozing form. “Morga doesn’t usually act that way...and I don’t think I’ve heard her growl at anyone other than Al before.” Vaggie couldn’t help but snicker at that. It was no secret that she still wasn’t the Radio Demon’s biggest fan. “Vags, maybe you should check on her? Since she definitely trusts you more than anyone else. I don’t want to startle her if she’s feeling a little more sensitive and skittish than usual.”

Vaggie smiled a little at her best friend’s words. She still wasn’t sure how she had become lucky enough to catch the eye of such an enchanting, wild woman like Morgana, but she was grateful for that each day. “Of course I will. You two go back to whatever you were doing; I’ve got this. I’ll take care of her.”

Husk grumbled something along the lines of “Careful she doesn’t rip your hand off,” before heading back to the bar, while Charlie nearly skipped away toward Alastor’s office, eager to spend time with her mate.

Vaggie slowly made her way over to Morga’s dozing form, beginning to speak softly to her lover as she did so. “Morga, hun? Are you feeling alright?”

Morga’s eyes slowly blinked open and she felt a growl instinctively begin to build in the back of her throat. When she saw her moth demon slowly approaching, though, she stopped immediately. She let out an apologetic whine and glanced off to the side, folding her ears back against her head.

Vaggie crouched down and knelt alongside her direwolf, gently running her fingers through the thick fur along Morga’s back. “It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s alright. I know you didn’t mean it,” Vaggie murmured. Morga rumbled her thanks and hesitantly laid her head in Vaggie’s lap, gazing up at her tiredly. Vaggie felt her heart twist at the sight. Her usually-serene, confident Morga looked so tired and hopeless. For a moment she didn’t know what to do. She just wanted to be there for her lover and comfort her in the same way that Morga so often comforted Vaggie.

“I’m sorry you don’t feel great today, mi cariño,” Vaggie cooed, beginning to idly stroke Morga’s silky, feathered wings. She was actively racking her brain, trying to think of what would help her wolf feel more like her usual self. “Have you had anything to eat today?”

In response, Morga’s ears flattened once more and she looked anywhere but at Vaggie. The moth demon gave the direwolf a small, patient smile. “That’s alright; it’s easy to forget those things when you’re depressed and having an off day. How about we find something good to eat in the kitchen and then go back to our room to cuddle?”

In response, Morga butted her head against Vaggie’s stomach, then rose to her paws for a nice, long stretch. She stared expectantly at Vaggie, waiting for the moth demon to stand up too. Vaggie chuckled, taking that as her cue to stand. “Alright, princess, let’s go.” Morga growled softly at Vaggie’s teasing tone and gently nipped her hand for good measure. “Hey now, you better watch it, missy!” Vaggie replied, to which Morga swatted her gently with one of her wings before plodding ahead to the kitchen.

The two of them rifled through the cupboards, determined to find something Morga would like. Suddenly, the direwolf’s ears perked up and she eagerly sniffed a sealed plastic bag that was filled to the brim with something that smelled delicious. Vaggie raised a brow and reached into the cupboard, only to pull out the bag of venison jerky that Morga had been snuffling at. “Babe, Alastor made this from the deer he killed during his last hunt. Maybe we should find some food that doesn’t already belong to someone, yeah?” In response, Morga’s ears drooped, she lowered her head, and simultaneously gave Vaggie the most pathetic puppy dog eyes she could muster. Vaggie groaned, covering her face with the hand not holding the bag of jerky so she wouldn’t have to see the pathetically adorable display.

“Ugh...okay, fine! I guess that shitlord can always make more another time. I’d rather you have the jerky than him anyway,” Vaggie relented, holding the bag of jerky out to Morga. The direwolf gently took the bag into her mouth, trotting toward the staircase as Vaggie grabbed two water bottles from the fridge and followed quickly behind.

Back in their shared bedroom, Vaggie and Morga, still in wolf form, lounged on their bed and snacked on stolen jerky while soft music played from a speaker on their bedside table. Vaggie leaned back against the headboard, scratching behind Morga’s ears as the direwolf sprawled across the moth demon’s lap and contentedly tore into her seventh piece of jerky. While Morga still felt like a shadow of her usual self, she couldn’t deny that she felt much better than she had that morning; and it was all thanks to the love, support, and patience that Vaggie so freely gave.

Suddenly, from downstairs they heard a baffled-sounding Radio Demon call out: “Oh Charlie, dearest, do you know where my venison jerky ran off to? I put an entire bag in the cupboard just this morning!”

Meanwhile, back in hers and Vaggie’s bedroom, Morga wolfed down the last piece of jerky that was currently between her forepaws, and pushed the empty bag beneath the duvet with her nose. Content with her work, she laid her head on top of Vaggie’s stomach, snuggled close to her side, and spread one of her wings over her moth demon as a sort of blanket. She gazed up at Vaggie in thanks for all she had done that day, then began to fall asleep. This slumber would be far more peaceful than the last.

[dracolucius-abraxusmalfoy]

The Incident 

Harry had started referring to it as "The Incident". Remarkably enough, Draco hadn't laughed at him, only given him that small, embarrassed smile and turned an interesting shade of not-quite-red-but-too-dark-to-be-pink. It was almost the exact same look he had given Harry the first time they had bumped into each other after the war, knocking over Harry's too hot coffee, and nearly face planting onto the pavement. 

In school Draco had appeared elegant and dignified, almost graceful. Now though, Harry knew better. The man was a menace on two feet, and possibly the most accident-prone individual Harry had ever had the (mis)fortune of meeting. 

That's how "The Incident" had happened. 

They had been upstairs in Harry's flat, fooling around, and Draco had tumbled off the bed, a crash resounding as he took the whole bedside table (and it's content's) with him. 

"Harry? Are you okay up there?" They had both frozen, and the sound of footsteps suddenly seemed very loud. It was Hermione, which probably meant Ron, which defiantly meant Hugo. And maybe Rosie as well.

"Shit, Harry what-"

"Shh, Merlin. Aren't you supposed to be sneaky?" Draco had looked at him reproachfully for that one, and he was sure he was going to pay for it later, but right then, it was more important that the wanker shut his mouth before he got them both caught. 

"Is someone in there with you? Harry?" He jumped at the sound of the voice so close to the door. 

"Ah... no- just me!" She made a noise, but Harry was to busy trying to find a place for Draco to hide. He pointed to the closet, making go motions with both his hands. Draco's eyebrows rose, and Harry could almost hear the snarky comment. 

That seems a little redundant don't you think Golden Boy?

He rolled his eyes and made the motion again, emphasizing it with a sharp point added on to the end, before flicking his eyes to the bedroom door again. 

Do you really want to get caught starkers in The Chosen One's bedroom?

It was Draco's turn for an eye roll, but he made to get up. Harry had started using the man's own words against him months ago, and it had yet to fail as a method of getting what he wanted. 

"Harry? Are you sure you're okay in there, we heard a-"

BANG 

Harry turned and glared at his boyfriend, who had apparently been attempting to right himself but had instead tripped on the sheet tangled around his legs. He looked sheepish, and Harry had to hold in a laugh. 

“Harry!” That was defiantly Ron. 

Harry sighed, there’s was no preventing this now. He simply laid back, pulling up the blanket to preserve some semblance of modesty and dignity, and decided to watch it all happen. 

Draco of course looked a rather endearing combination of rage and confusion at Harry’s sudden lack of participation in the proceedings.

“Harry…” He whispered carefully, still seated on the ground, attempting to disentangle sheet from around his legs. But that was really as far as he got because Ron was bursting into the room then, wand held high, and eyes focused. It only took them 30 seconds to land on Draco, who was apparently too stunned to do anything but stare, bare arse still pressed very obviously into Harry’s floor. 

“Dear Merlin!” Was met with Hermione’s simultaneous screech of “Ronald Bilius Weasley!”

“My eyes!” And “I told you not to barge in!”

The only reason Harry managed to suppress a laugh was Draco’s cold glare, a promise of future retribution if he did. He couldn’t quite manage not to smile though. He supposed he’d just have to deal with the consequences. 

Ron was still standing in the middle of Harry’s bedroom, eyes scrunched shut, and somehow Draco had managed to disengage himself enough from his sheet to wrap it around his waist. 

“So, was there something you guys needed?” He sounded rather pleasant if he did say so, but Draco looked like he was ready to murder someone. And then, quite possibly, melt into a puddle of embarrassed goo on the floor. 

Hermione smiled. “Yes, we were just coming to see if you wanted to come for dinner tonight? And then if you would mind watching Rosie and Hugo for a couple hours afterwards. You didn’t answer the floo, so we figured we’d come through and see if you were home.”

“Oh, well, yes, defiantly home.” He paused, flicking his eyes to Draco, and letting them linger appreciatively for a moment before looking back toward Hermione. “We were a little busy.”

Hermione, for her part, managed to only turn a little red, but Draco’s indignant squeak made Harry laugh anyways. 

“Yes, sorry, we’ll- let you finish up then. Come on Ron.”

“But- Hermione!”

“Yes, Ronald?” Harry knew that tone. It was the tone of voice that brokered no argument. Harry could visibly see Ron changing gears to accommodate. 

“What about dinner?” He managed weakly. 

“Oh, I’m sure they’re coming.” She turned to glance at Draco, before looking at Harry. “Aren't you?”

She didn’t wait for a response, only dragged Ron by the wrist out the door, Hugo still balanced perfectly on her hip. 

“See you both at 6!” She yelled, from what sounded like halfway down the stairs. Harry could hear Ron’s spluttering all the way into his drawing room before it cut off. 

“Oh Merlin’s balls.” Said Draco, who then proceeded to flop face first onto the bed, head landing just a little too hard in Harry’s lap. But it didn’t matter, because Harry was laughing so hard it hurt, and they’d both been invited to dinner. 

[milleniumhan]

Leave, just like everyone does. Part Two. (Steve Harrington X Reader)

Note: Hey guys! I know I said I wouldn’t upload until next week, but turns out I’m a little shit and managed to finish the draft today! I think I might go blind though.This is the second part of the “Leave” mini-series. You can read the first part here! I really hope you like it because I worked hard on it for a long time!

I’m tagging these beautiful people because they asked me to. <3 @ambeazyyy​ @kaliforniacoastalteens @catnissprior-blog . I’m also currently working on a tag list, so if you would like to be included please let me know! Feel free to message me or leave me a comment. Thanks again! <3

Summary: You return to your hometown only to realize the person you once loved the most now hates you. Should you keep presuing him? Should you tell him how you feel? Or just move on? Billy doesn’t seem so bad after all, you know? In this chapter all of these questions are answered...or well, most of them.

Warnings: Language and angst!

“Fuck.” Those were the first words that came to your mind when you entered the party with Billy. It was Steve’s house. Great. Of course it was. “You didn’t tell me it was Steve’s party” you shouted at Billy throught the music as he handed you a drink “Yeah, is that a problem?” Billy teased. “No, not at all, it’s fine” you replied before downing all the booze in your cup. “You might wanna slow down there sweetcheeks, we wouldn’t want you doing anything stupid, eh?” Billy mocked you with a wink. You were surprised he even cared, to be honest. “I’m fine, don’t worry about it.” 

The night continued to progress and thought you saw Steve looking at you, but decided to brush it off, thinking you were just imagining things like always. Billy got even more drunk as the party went on and you started to realize that maybe he wasn’t such a great guy after all, but the again, not many people are pleasant when they’re drunk. Parties were just not your thing, you kept reassuring yourself. The night continued to get increasingly tedious and you thought about going home, but it was dark and you were really far, so instead you decided it was best to go outside and get some air. As you were sitting down on the stairs of the front porch you could hear someone strugguling with the door. You heard a loud bang behind you before turning around quickly, only to be greeted with a very, veeery drunk Steve on the ground. You rushed over to help him up but when he felt your hand over his arm, he quickly flinched back. “Don’t touch me, I’m fine” he hissed. You could feel a sting in your chest and air trapped in your throat. “Steve, you’re hurt” you continued softly, signaling to his now busted lip. “Yeah, no shit” he replied with a harsh tone as he struggled to get up from the ground. He hated you even when he was drunk, but...why? Not knowing what you had done for him to feel this way about you is what hurt the most, you were always nice to him, barley even had a fight when you were together. You could feel the tears forming in your eyes at the thought of never being able to talk to him again, to touch him, to just hold him one last time. You took a deep breath and walked towards the door to go and look for Billy so he could just take you home. Steve scoffed when you started walking. “Yeah, whatever, just leave, leave like you always do, like everyone always does” his words were slurred but you could still hear the resentment in them. You looked back at him confused and gave him a questioning look. After a moment of silence and him staring at you like you were stupid you finally said “What are you talking about? You’re the one who has been avoiding me this whole time whilst simultaneously being a complete ass. I tried, Steve.” “Well, what? What did you expect? You think that you could just come back and talk to me like nothing happened? like you didn’t leave?... like you didn’t leave me? like you didn’t completely shatter me? broke me in a million pieces, just like that.” The volume in his voice was getting louder, you could feel the anger quickly rising in him as he continued “Did you really think I’d just be here waiting for you like some sort of-of, dog?” his hand gestures following his every word. “You know what hurts the most? You never wrote me a single thing, not even a damn postcard. NOTHING. It’s like you completely forgot about me, like I didn’t even exist. And then what? you just show up at MY party with hIM? with fucking Billy Hargrove? You’ve seriously gotta be fucking kidding me.” you could see the deep distraught and anger in his face, even behind his drunken eyes.”You know that’s not what happened...I-” you managed to finally find your voice. “Bullshit.” Steve interrupted. “You left me! you fucking abandoned me!” “I had no choice!” you shouted back with frustration, tears threatening to come out. “You think I wanted to leave you? You were the love of my life! The only one I ever thought about! I preferred this shit hole over any other place as long as I was here with you” you could feel the exasperation building up inside you even more with each word that came out of your mouth. “I did write, Steve. I wrote to you for months, not a single day missed.” “What? No you didn’t” Steve said, trying to hide his shock. “I never sent them because I was scared of rejection” you continued “I didn’t know if you wanted to know about me anyomore, if you even still cared about me, you never wrote to me either, you know? But still, I kept writing. You think it was easy for me? everything reminded me of you, EVERYTHING. Every fucking song, every fucking view, movie, book, you name it!” Steve stared at you, completely staggered, the tears that now covered his face glistening against the moonlight. “What?” was all that could come out of his mouth. “You wrote to me?” “Yeah, I still have all the letters, I kept all of them, Steve” you lowered your voice to a whisper again as you searched the floor with your eyes. “When I finally gathered the courage to send them to you they told me you had moved on, found someone new, someone who was better. Someone who was there, there for you when I couldn’t be. I was too late.” you fiddled with your fingers as you looked at him, waiting for some sort of response. “Nancy...” he softly whispered “yeah, she left me too. I guess I wasn’t good enough for her either.” he shook his head as he looked down and kicked the ground below him. Your anger had faded, all you could feel now was sadness and a little bit of pity. Steve was such a nice guy, such a great guy, and he was the only one who couldn’t see it. “I-I can’t do this anymore, Steve. I can’t keep letting you make me feel guilty for something that wasn’t my fault or my choice, something that was out of my hands. What did you want me to do, Steve? What was I supposed to do?” You were met with silence, Steve still looking down at his feet.  You finally gave up. “I didn’t want this” you mumbled under your breath as you turned around to head for the door. As you stepped forward you bumped into someone’s chest. You looked up to see Billy, staring right at Steve, giving him a glare that could cut through glass. “We got a problem, Harrington?” “Billy, everything’s oka-” you started but Steve interrupted you. “Fuck off, Hargrove.” “What did you just say?” Billy’s voice got deeper with anger. “Yeah, why are you even here anyway? I don’t remember inviting you to my party.”  Billy took a menacing step forward, his muscles completely flexed, fists closed so tightly you could see his knuckles going white. “Shit” you thought, there was no way Steve would survive a beating by Billy. “Billy, let’s just go, please” you finally intervened as you placed your hand over his arm, praying to all the gods that he would listen to you. He clenched his jaw and glanced down at you before continuing to walk towards the stairs, but not without spitting down at Steve’s feet and pushing him out of the way with his shoulder. Once he reached the stairs he fixed his leather jacket and extended his hand out for you, “Come on, I´ll take you home baby”, the pet name making Steve roll his eyes. You nodded and took a step forward, but stopped once more before leaving to look at Steve. He looked down at his hands and shook his head before looking back at you and silently saying: “I just wanted you to love me the way I loved you.” “I did.” you replied softly before taking Billy’s hand. “I really did.”

Heya! Thank you for scrolling all the way down here! <3 Hope you didn’t feel like you wasted your time hehe. The parts that follow will be posted soon! 

[chvrchesrp]

Welcome to CHVRCHES’ ninth event!

This event is our fourth invite event, which means it’s the kind of event everyone is familiar with on tumblr: we give you a setting, you run amok with it! What’s written is canon, the rest is up to you! You will be split up into one of 3 groups to culminate the season finale, depending on your alignment. The setting of this Invite is, for Saints and Angels, the restaurant Absolution... in a way. For the Sinners and Demons, it’s Cheap Thrills... for a time. 

All 3 scenes happen simultaneously. The “end” of one is the same time-ending of the others. The date stamp for the event is Sunday, May 28th, in the afternoon. There is no second part, so you can engage with this scene—and after—as long as you want until our next event in late June. ♥ Long post ahead:

SCENE ONE:

Raziel, Gabriel, Cassiel, Shibah, Donato, Lazarus, Zoe, Zack, Adele, Naomi, Noah, Grace, Isaiah, Maria, Joshua, Magda—

You show up to Absolution because that’s where you’ve been told to go. It seems odd, given you know you’re going to an Ascension—but what’s odd when you have no idea what an Ascension even entails? So you go in, humans filing past angels, heading not up the stairs to the Angel-only meeting room that only angels know how to open, but instead down a set of dark stairs into Absolution’s cellar. You can’t see how the door opens, but it does, so you step into the darkness, unsure if you should be expecting wine casks or caskets. In contrast, you see nothing—or maybe it’s something like synaesthesia, where you feel the colour blue and see the sound of humming—and there, in the back on a wall not bordering the outside, is an ornate, white-framed ceiling-height mirror. Gabriel is the first through, a harp in hand, her face stoic.

Following are Raziel and Shibah, side by side, though not touching. Everyone else follows suit. Stepping through the mirror feels like the texture of water—it feels like rain, if rain didn’t have a weight or a temperature. Once on the other side, behind you isn’t a mirror: it’s the pearly gates. This is the first time in history that alive humans have been on this side. There is another set of gates, further on, if they could be called such: they’re made from boughs of what seems to be tall trees and everything around you reminds you of the lushness of Eden, though that garden differed from this one. There is an eerie sensation to being in Heaven: there’s the sense that birds are singing, and then you can’t find any birds, but the moment you realize you can’t find any birds—there’s a bird, solving the dissonance for you. You can’t see the sun, but you can feel it all around you, and everything feels pleasantly hazy.

The gathering of trees form a circle around you, as if mimicking a foyer or antechamber but of nature; to the right of the second gates, Gabriel sits her harp and waits. Raziel and Shibah stand in front of those gates. It feels like an eternity before something happens—but then it feels like an instant, more angels than you can count materialize into a more corporal form, and you realize it wasn’t the sun you were feeling, but maybe was the energy of angels?—and there is no way to see them all. One by one, which is an illogically faster process than you’d think, each angel begins to stamp their feet. You realize there are two rhythms happening, distinct and competing, and the tapping becomes a dull roar becomes a cacophony. An angel you don’t know leans over to you, the mouth doesn’t move but you hear, “This pattern for Raziel—this for Shibah.” You stamp your feet to match your vote.

Gabriel’s head is cocked to the side, listening, trying to pick out something you sincerely can’t: a melody out of the chaos. The stamping continues and all eyes fall to the pair of competing angels at the gates; then, very faintly, very faintly, around the edges and almost out of the corner of your eye, Raziel begins to glow, as if that same sun-energy-feeling from earlier is concentrating around him. The people have spoken: it was very close—almost too close for comfort. The vote was very nearly perfectly split: 55% voted for Raziel. Over time, the beats sound less cacophonous: people have changed their sound to support Raziel, or make no sound at all and stand aside. Anyone not standing aside moves to complete the circle as Raziel steps into the center. Then, one by one and then all at once, the angels began to dance.

There were defined movements you can’t quite pick apart at first—a swooping here, a kicking there, a tossing of one’s head, an arching of the back—and you try to join in, but clumsily. But even if you lacked the ability or the body, something more helps you. It gets easier the more go-arounds you do it: you don’t even feel like you’re doing steps, but that something is guiding your body as your energy lends its support, and you are spinning around the center like spokes on a wheel, around and around, faster and faster until you’re nearly breathless and giddy—and then you hear song, the most beautiful song you’ve ever heard, and then you realize you’re helping make the song, and the feeling in your chest is one of harmonic euphoria. In the center, Raziel looks larger than life, not physically, but something about him.

The entire garden has reached its energetic height, and like the crest of a wave, it breaks, and there’s a sound like thunder if clouds were made of silk, and then it’s done. Everyone is laughing and it’s a party, refreshments appear as if from thin air, and the sounds of the high harp move to a lull. Those who don’t support go their own way as the rest remain. It was not the strongest Ascension—not as strong as Adon’s—but it worked, and God was no longer dead. Long live God. When all the merriment this side of Heaven winds down, the angels lead the humans back through the Gates, through the mirror-feeling, and back into the cellar of Absolution.

Only after that does only Gabriel seem to realize: the mirror is solid. The Gates of Heaven have closed.

SCENE TWO:

Belial, Leviathan, Abaddon, Babylon, Crowley, Renee, Dominic, Isadora, Elijah, Olivia, Kezia, Ethan—

An Ascension is short notice, but you’re not invited anyway. But what’s the fun in that? You can’t get near it, even if you wanted to—so instead, the Church of Sinners invites their brethren to their own little shindig down on the piers. Satan was invited, but declines attending, and Kiara is notably missing altogether. Nevertheless, the rest of the usual suspects and congregation gather for boardwalk festivities, some riding some rides, others hijacking busker materials and doing poor caricatures for passers-by or painting one another’s faces. For awhile, everyone seems contented to their sunny, pre-Memorial Day afternoon. Belial is making balloon animals and popping them at children.

Then, there’s an unmistakable feeling—a shifting. Like, quite suddenly, nothing around you seems for certain, or solid. You feel a sharp jolt under your feet, but don’t see anything there. Then, in succession, a few stronger sharp shakes that pass quickly. The buildings around you make a strange noise, but nothing seems off except maybe you feel like something’s tilted? Like you just got off the spinning cup ride and you’re just waiting for your ears to catch up to gravity. More strong shaking followers, lasting about a second, and it feels violent—rebellious—and you have trouble standing. People around you are screaming, but they don’t seem to be heading toward safety—they just seem to be running away. 

When you are steady enough to look up, the ground is still shaking but you can see where it’s split, like someone pierced the earth clean through at a point, like all the cracks had a center; up from the cracks rises a dark mist not unlike what Pestilence had subsumed from Dr. Drobot in the Escape Room. It moved as if on an air current toward that same center, swirling—as above, so below—and right in the center of the mist and the cracks is a cross-legged, absolutely diabolical-looking Warmonger... who has now integrated into a demon. He has a sword in his hand and his energy engulfs the piers, as anyone who is left is unable to tear their eyes away. The beach becomes colder because War is drawing all of the heat toward him like the earth’s crater: he is glowing and fire unfurls from his back shaped like wings. The ground is scorched where they touch.

There is an audible snap louder than a gunshot in the air and Renee falls to the ground, re-experiencing mortality for the first time in hundreds of years. Belial didn’t die, so she doesn’t hollow, but he is no longer a demon—so she is no longer his ligatus. Far from her, Belial’s wing shapes slowly crackle down, becoming more like a sparking forcefield of energy around his body, like a visible aura. When Belial steps away from the summit of the earthquake, little reverbs tremble from his step, and then stop. Now, he looks just like himself, but a faint red glow permanently lines his skin. The Horsemen of War has been fully integrated and laughter echoes even though there are no walls; the laughter is not kind. A good quarter of the pier is decimated and two rides barely have their skeletons left—but you’ve survived.

With a dark, menacing glint in his eye, Belial turns not to Renee—an afterthought, barely a memory at the moment—and instead focuses on Babylon. You can stand now... but tread carefully.

SCENE THREE:

Somewhere in Las Vegas, courtesy of @whatroughbeast—

Morning dawns to an empty room in Sunset Tower, while the workers of the Paradise Hotel let out a collective breath of relief the moment their employer leaves the premises – the door to the manager’s office is left open and while the vault is closed once more, the remains of Belial’s investigation are still scattered on the floor, untouched. There’s a fresh pressed suit hanging over the back of a chair and a cellphone and ring of master keys tossed haphazardly on the desk. The message is clear: Satan doesn’t intend to return to this place again. His time is Los Angeles was born only from orders and leaving the City of Angels behind inspires no heartache. After all, Satan is going back to the closest to home above the earth a demon can find.

The Strip is baking in the midday sun when the once-Devil arrives in Las Vegas and it's the vault there he immediately returns to, even larger than the one in Paradise and laden with gruesome mementos that stretch back over the bulk of human memory and beyond. He leaves with only one thing: a weapon thousands of years old, stained dark with the lifeblood of creatures both mortal and divine, and he carries the wickedly curved blade like a natural extension of his own flesh. There is no pause for reflection, no moment wasted on further brooding or strategy, not after so much time already gone and the threat of the Rapture ever-looming on the horizon.

This time, Lucifer’s manor is devoid of the throng of eager guests that had accompanied Vice’s dazzling Centennial, but the memories that accompany Satan’s first steps into these halls are fresh in his mind, inspiring future actions to recreate the past. The manor has already been the stage for one death this year and if Satan gets his way, Jairus’ blood will not be the last spilt on these floors. As he stalks through the endless halls, every step bringing him closer to the being who has always carried the heaviest weight of Satan’s bitterness, there is no question of outcome in his mind. It took an angel to kill God, after all. Only a demon could properly kill the Devil.

[jonghyundroppedthesoap]

Just This Once

Chapter: 1/1 Word Count: 1,423 Pairing: JongKey Summary: In which Jonghyun finally convinces Kibum to ditch class and Kibum is unlucky. A/N: originally posted on @ourshineeshrine

“C’mon, Kibum! Just this once, please. I swear we won’t get caught.” whined Jonghyun, jutting his bottom lip out in a heartfelt attempt to persuade the younger male.

Kibum frowned and nibbled his lip softly, genuinely torn. “I can’t afford to get in trouble or miss any classes, Jjong. Exams are coming up, you know.”

Jonghyun grabbed Kibum’s hand from their secluded place by the music room and entwined their fingers together. It was a perfect fit.

“Kibum,” he wailed desperately. “You’re always studying these days, and I just want some quality time with you before your schedule gets even more hectic. Just ditch this one time, I beg you!”

Kibum’s eyes travelled down to their interlaced hands and signed in resignation, lifting his gaze up to meet Jonghyun’s. “Just this once, Jonghyun. But I swear to god, if we get caught…”

A snort emitted from Jonghyun’s throat, and he rose a dubious eyebrow. “If we get caught…?”

“…If we get caught, I won’t come to your house on Saturday.”

Jonghyun’s jaw dropped, gobsmacked. “But you know my parents aren’t going to be home!”

“This or that, Jjong. Choose wisely, hon.” smirked Kibum, feeling quite smug at the simplicity of manipulating his boyfriend.

Jonghyun pouted. He wasn’t meant to be the one stuck between a rock and a hard place, yet there he was, balancing two equally inviting options. With a deciding scoff, he tugged at Kibum’s hand and began to drag him into the music room, closing the door behind them without a second glance. “Well we aren’t going to get caught anyway, so…”

A hint of a smile flickered on Kibum’s face. “I’m trusting you here, babe.”

“I know, I know. But no one comes in here anyway, Kibum. Luck is on our side.” Jonghyun whispered, grabbing Kibum around the waist and pressing him against the adjacent wall.

Kibum’s hands automatically slipped their way beneath Jonghyun’s shirt, travelling lightly over every expanse of skin possible. Manicured nails ran over the older boy’s firm torso, lingering by his pecks and grazing teasingly over his pink nubs. A shiver travelled down Jonghyun’s spine, and unconsciously, his grip on Kibum’s waist tightened.

Both males simultaneously leaned in for a kiss, lips gliding against each other’s in a relaxed, sloppy manner. Jonghyun slid his hands into Kibum’s jean pockets and pulled the feline boy even closer, revelling in the sigh of content that slipped from Kibum’s lips. Their tongues began to dance around each other, like flames licking at your skin in the event of a fire, and the hum of content emitting from Jonghyun’s lips was inevitable.

Minutes passed like seconds, and soon, Kibum’s hands were gripping at Jonghyun’s shirt and tugging it over his head. Their kisses were more ferocious now, harder and more desperate as though the other would disappear if they pulled away. Jonghyun’s golden skin lay bare, and although Kibum was quite accustomed to the sight, he still marvelled at the sheer tone of his body.

His fingers tangled in Jonghyun’s hair and pulled him down for another kiss, however was interrupted as Jonghyun tutted in disappointment and looked pointedly at Kibum’s attire. Kibum rolled his eyes and hurriedly began to undo his crisp, white shirt, fingers fumbling on the buttons as he attempted hurriedly to remove the layer from his body. Jonghyun laughed gently before nudging Kibum’s hands away, unbuttoning the shirt himself much too slowly for Kibum’s liking.

“Hurry up,” groaned Kibum, fidgeting from where he stood. Jonghyun smiled and slowed his pace even more so, leaning down to place a lingering kiss on Kibum’s pale neck. Kibum arched his neck to the side and gripped Jonghyun’s shoulders roughly, wordlessly begging the older male to continue.

And continue Jonghyun did, kissing and nipping and sucking and licking at a now red spot below Kibum’s left ear. Kibum moaned, and it seemed as though his mind was elsewhere because he took no notice of his shirt which now lay crinkled upon the floor. Jonghyun kissed his way up back to Kibum’s lips and ran his calloused palms over Kibum’s smooth, pale skin, basking in the flawless feeling that was his boyfriend.

Kibum’s leg moved between Jonghyun’s thighs intuitively, unintentionally eliciting a muffled whimper from the older student. He smirked and continued to kiss Jonghyun senseless, grinding his leg against him once more in pure spite and taking pride in the reaction gained from his actions. Jonghyun threw his head back slightly and groaned, the tightness in his pants become all too evident. He clutched Kibum’s waist and trailed his fingers around to the crevice of his back, sending a trail of gooseflesh and tingles wherever they made contact.

Their session continued at relatively the same pace, neither male risking the chance to take things further in a classroom within their school. Their tongues continued to battle for dominance and their noses bumped roughly as they attempted to gain as much leverage as possible, leaving both Jonghyun and Kibum a flushed mess when they finally pulled apart. Kibum leant his forehead against Jonghyun’s and sighed contentedly.

“Y’know…I’m really glad you convinced me to ditch.” he mumbled, eyes half lidded as he looked to gauge Jonghyun’s reaction.

Jonghyun laughed mirthfully and opened his eyes, creases appearing like crows’ feet on the outer edges of his lids. “Is that an invitation to do it more often?”

A fond smile grew on Kibum’s profile, and he leaned in for one last peck before pulling away entirely. “In your dreams, Jonghyun.”

The bell signalling next period sounded through the room, and Jonghyun and Kibum exchanged a wide-eyed look before hurriedly shoving their shirts on and smoothening down their appearance. They half-heartedly made sure they looked decent enough and nodded to themselves before making their way to the door, fixing their strands of hair once again as they turned the knob to the outside world.

Lingering giggles escaped their bodies as they stepped out into the void corridor and it was like Jonghyun said; no one ever visited this side of the school unless they had to. Well, almost everyone. Because much to Jonghyun and Kibum’s horror, right outside the door stood the latter’s menacing math teacher, glaring at them with the enough force to make knees tremble. And tremble they did, despite Jonghyun’s valiant attempt to escape the daunting situation.

“Hi, ma’am!” he exclaimed brightly, rocking back and forth on his heels in faux nonchalance. “Kibum and I just had a spare so I was showing him my new song. Would you like to take a listen?”

Kibum cringed, and screwed his face up in despair. “Jonghyun,” he whispered frantically, causing the older male to look his way in confusion. “I just had math.”

It was safe to say that whispering wasn’t Kibum’s forte.

“Oh did you now, Mr Kim? I wonder where, because it certainly wasn’t in my class.” she spoke darkly, using her forefinger and thumb to push her glasses up in scrutiny.

The two boys gulped simultaneously, and Kibum visibly glowered at Jonghyun. “Guess who’s staying home on Saturday.” he grumbled angrily, feeling no sympathy whatsoever for the crestfallen expression on Jonghyun’s face.

“Certainly neither of you.” The teacher interrupted, diverting Jonghyun and Kibum’s attention back to her in astonished intrigue.  “You’ll both be serving Saturday detention here, at school. I’d hope to see you both there, because if not, certain calls can be made. Am I clear, boys?”

Jonghyun and Kibum exchanged horrified glances, jaws dropping in incredulity. “Y-yes, ma’am.” stuttered Kibum, fidgeting with his hands as he refused desperately to make eye contact.

“I’ll see the two of you on Saturday, then.” she spoke, looking down on them with disdain through her wired framed spectacles. “Hopefully not attempting to devour each other’s faces this time.”

And with that, the teacher walked away, leaving two very dumbfounded and horrified boys in her wake.

“S-she saw?” questioned Kibum softly, ears and neck flushing an indescribable shade of crimson. Jonghyun’s face was in a similar state, and he glanced at Kibum with an expression of pure guilt.

“Well…” Jonghyun attempted feebly. “At least we put on a good show?”

Kibum groaned loudly in embarrassment and sunk down to the floor.

“I’m never going to math class again.” he whined in a high pitch.

Jonghyun patted his shoulder awkwardly from where he stood, level of embarrassment nearly as high as Kibum’s. “So…” he began slowly. “Does that mean you wanna ditch again?”

It was safe to say he received a ‘no’ in response.

[50funny]

Mage: Chapter 18- The Final Test

Written By 50Funny

Part 1- The Final Test

The twelve final test takers sat around the enormous gymnasium-like Guild Hall, waiting impatiently for the final test to begin. Alex sat slumped up against the wall watching as Liz and Bip sat in front of him playing cards. 

“This is so boring,” Alex complained.

“We invited you to play,” Liz replied without taking her eyes off the game.

“What could be taking them so long though. I just want this to be over already,” Alex moaned.

Without warning the doors on the other side of the hall swung open. The test takers all shifted their gaze to the door as 2 strutted into the room followed shortly behind by 3 and 5. The participants all packed up their various activities and made their way to the center of the room.

“Hello everyone and thank you for patiently waiting,” 2 bellowed, her voice reverberating through the hall. “My name is 2 and I am the leader of the Guild of the Silver Sun, I will also be overseeing the final stage of your test. I would like to congratulate all of you on making it this far. You have all shown that you have abilities far greater than that of the average magic user. However, not all of you will leave today as mages.”

The test takers listened on, tension growing as the final test drew closer and closer.

“For the final stage of your test, you will be pitted against each other in a series of one on one battles. Victory will be determined once one surrenders or is rendered unable to continue. Once first rounds are complete the remaining six will fight again to determine the three of you who will join our Guild,” 2 continued raising her hand into the air snapping her fingers.

Two small fedoras appeared in front of 2 in a puff of smoke, one white with a black stripe around, the other black with a white stripe. The hats hovered lightly above the ground, bobbing up and down in the air.

“We will pull a name out of the white hat. That person will then select a name from the black hat and that will be the person they fight. Alright then let’s begin,”  concluded 2 as she reached into the white hat.

2 dug her hand around in the hat before pulling it back out, holding a small slip of paper in between her fingers. She began to unfold the crumpled up piece of paper. She raised the paper to her head scanning it with her eyes before looking back out over the group.

“Liz,” stated 2 turning the sheet around to face the group.

Liz took in a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come.

“I can do this,” Liz muttered to herself.

“Good luck,” Bip encouraged. 

Liz strode forward towards 2, staring her down confidently as she reached her hand deep into the black hat. She pulled out a small crumpled up piece of paper. Liz began unfolded the small sheet, her eyes filling with horror as they glanced over the name.

“If you would please read out the name,” 2 said.

“E… Es,” Liz said, her voice drenched with despair.

Alex and Bip looked across the room to Es, a malicious grin stretching across his face.

“Oh… bad luck,” Es sneered.

“Ok then, if the two of would please move to either side of the room. Everyone else follow me to the sidelines and let us begin,” 2 said as she walked towards the side of the room.

As the group followed 2’s lead, Liz and Es were left alone, facing off against each other. Alex and Bip looked back and locked eyes with Liz. Their faces were covered with concern as they wordlessly wished her luck. Liz acknowledged them with a small nod, before looking back to Es staring at her. A wave of pure terror gripped her as she prepared for the battle that was to come.

Part 2- Preparation For Battle

The test takers all reached the side of the hall and looked on at Liz and Es.

“Are you sure this is safe?” asked 5 “I mean, things are bound to get at least a little out of hand.”

“Hmmm, I suppose your right,” 2 replied.

She raised her hand up through the air causing a glimmering glass-like dome to appear around the group.

“There, that should do the trick nicely,” 2 said to herself. “You will have till the count of three, at that point combat will commence. Use any method you see fit to secure yourself victory,” she called out to the two contestants.

Es continued to stare down Liz with malicious intent. 

“I must say, I’ve been looking forward to this. You still remember what I told you right?” Es taunted.

Liz tried to block out Es words. His threats from their previous encounters still echoed through her mind, eating away at her will to fight. Liz knew that if she lost it could very well be her final defeat. She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. She opened her eyes and clenched her fist tightly as she once again felt determination filling her.

“Ok, ready? Three!” shouted 2.

Es took up a stance ready for battle, shooting out a jet of flames from his fist.

“Two!” 2 continued.

Liz took up a similar fighting stance.

Part 3- Battle To The Death

“One. Begin!” 2 concluded.

Es and Liz ran towards each other at full speed. As the pair got closer to each other, Es ducked down and swept his leg across the ground sending out a wave of blistering fire towards Liz. She jumped up as high as she could and managed to pass through the top of flames unharmed. Liz dropped back to the ground towards Es, aiming her fist at him. He quickly rolled out of the way of Liz’s attack. She landed on the ground causing a series of large sharp ice pillars to shoot out of the ground around her. Liz quickly jumped to the side not letting a moment go to waste. Es let out a series of firm punches sending a ball of flame flying towards Liz with each.

She continued to run around the arena, narrowly passing by Es' fireballs. She stopped her sprint before turning to face Es. Liz placed her hands up in front of her causing a large wall of ice to raise up from the ground. Es continued his barrage of fire melting small patches of the ice wall as they collided with it. Liz turned her body to the side and raised her leg before letting out a strong kick at the wall, sending it barreling at full speed towards Es.. He stood unmoving in his spot and continued his barrage of flames at the wall. As the ice wall grew closer Es wound his fist back, coating it in a roaring flame. He launched his fist towards the wall shattering it into thousands of tiny shards in an instant. Using the falling ice shards as cover Liz lunged towards Es drawing back her fist for a punch. Liz launched her fist towards Es who ducked quickly to the side avoiding her strike. Without hesitation Liz let out another blow towards his chest. Es quickly blocked the blow with his right arm before sending his own blow with his left. The pair continued trading and blocking blows at a blinding speed. The rest of the test takers watched on as the fight continued to unfold in front of them.

“This is certainly interesting,” 2 observed.

“She’s holding her own pretty well, I barely sensed any magic whatsoever from her,” 5 said.

Alex and Bip looked on as Liz and Es continued to trade blows, the tension of the battle filling them. Alex clenched his fist tightly as he watched on. 

“Come on Liz,” Alex muttered.

Liz and Es simultaneously launched themselves backwards away from one another. Liz let out a series of exhausted pants as she stared down Es. He stood staring back at Liz, a snide grin stretched across his face.

“Is that all you got? I’m just starting to get warmed up,” Es taunted.

Liz continued to pant heavily as the pairs standoff continued. Suddenly, Es launched his arm flying into an uppercut, sending vertical blade of flame flying towards Liz. Without hesitation, Liz jumped to the side dodging his attack. Time seemed to slow down for a brief moment. Alex gritted his teeth as he watched the battle unfold. 

“Damn it, bad move,” Alex muttered.

Liz turned her head, quickly realising the mistake that she had made as her eyes focused on a second blade of fire on a course directly in front of her. Without time to dodge the encroaching attack, Liz braced herself for what was to come. The flames made contact with Liz’s right arm as she ran, instantly turning her sleeve to ash. She let out a scream of agonising pain as she passed through the fire. She stopped in her tracks grasping her burnt arm with her left hand tightly as she continued to let out pained grunts. A cool blue glow began to emanate from Liz’s hand around the burn, soothing it. Es let out a menacing laugh. 

“Haha, did that hurt? There’s a lot more where that came from.”

Two long strings of fire began to pour out of Es palm forming a fire whip in his hand. Without hesitation, Es began slashing at Liz with his whips at an incredible speed. Liz began to dodge between the blows, still tightly clutching her arm. The whips bounced off the invisible shield protecting the other test takers, leaving a wisp of smoke in their wake.

“I can’t keep this pace up forever. If I take another blow I’m done for. I’ve gotta get away from these whips fast,” Liz thought to herself, trying desperately to maintain her strategic thinking under the relentless onslaught.

Suddenly, forming above her, Liz saw the opening in Es’ attacks that she had been waiting for.

“This is my chance.”

Liz crouched down before launching herself off the ground between Es’ whips, and over his head. As she passed above his head Liz was met with the firm grasp of Es’ hand around her ankle. She was thrown off balance as she flew through the air. Es released her ankle, sending Liz crashing to the ground and rolling to a violent stop as she slammed into the wall. Liz attempted to stand back up before her arms gave out sending her crashing back down to the ground. She looked a cross the room to see Es slowly walking towards her.

“Well, that was easy. I was hoping you’d pose at least a little more of a challenge,” Es taunted. 

Liz raised her hand up and sent a sharp icicle flying through the air followed by several more. Es continued his saunter, effortlessly ducking his body through Liz’s barrage. He launched himself towards Liz, pinning her arm back down to the ground.

“Just give up already. This is just pathetic.”

Liz swiftly raised up her other arm to launch another icicle towards Es’ head. Before Liz could manage to launch her attack, Es grabbed her wrist sending her hand slamming back down to the ground. She suddenly felt an unbearable heat around her wrist. She let out an agonized scream as she turned her head to see Es’ hand glowing a deep orange and her hands turning black as they burnt. Liz continued to scream as Es moved his hands up her arm spreading the burn.

“Shut up. Screaming’s not going to help you.”

Bip and Alex watched on from the sideline.

“Alex… what’s going on?” asked Bip.

Alex continued to watch on in shock, unsure of what was happening in front of him.

“Something’s wrong,” Alex exclaimed under his breath.

Suddenly, a powerful surge of energy began to emanate from Liz as she screamed. Es was hit in the face at full force by the energy, feeling like an ice cold wind chilling him to the bone. Liz's eyes glazed over, a pale white colour.

“W…what the hell!” exclaimed Es.

The energy continued to grow filling the room with cyclonic winds. The wind violently bashed against the protective barrier surrounding the other test takers. 5 ran up to the barrier looking at the events unfolding in shock.

“How… She can’t be… Is she…” 5 said turning her head to face 2.

5 stood completely still in shock.

“She… She is,” 2 said.

Liz screams grew louder and louder as the roaring wind drowned out all other noise in the room. A sudden blinding white light shot out from Liz’s body. The room was plunged into a deafening silence, as everyone was left in the shock of what had just happened.

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Thank you for reading chapter 18 of mage. If you like what you see consider checking out my AO3 at this link https://archiveofourown.org/users/50Funny to see all new chapters 3 days early. If you feel so inclined please consider following my tumblr for all updates and other tid bits. Until next week, have a good day.