#everything else mid. bye.

[hussyknee]

I think sometimes you just have to make peace with the fact that your actual hobby is collecting books. And that that's okay.

[todayisawthewhxlewxrld]

Ok. I have a request took me a lot of courage to finally request and shat myself a couple times but anyway! A one shot where choso lives in y/ns dorm with them and he was like doing his hair and kept messing up and gave up and started crying (I FEEL LIKE THATS SOMETHING HED DO THE POOR BOY:() thennnn y/n walks in their dorm and sees him crying and then comforts him and does his hair for him!!

IF THAT AIN'T LOVE THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS!

synopsis// choso is having an off day.

➚ pairing// choso x gn!reader ➚ word count// 1.4k

contents// frustrated/sad choso? idk just some hurt/comfort in a way! fluff?? could be read as either platonic or romantic doesnt really matter i supposeeee? i think it kinda reads more romantic tho

notes// anon ur actual fucking MIND. i was moved. literally right after reading ur request i opened up my notes and went to fucking WORKKK!!!! anyway sorry its so kinda all over the place but i hope u like it and it lived up to ur expectations!! n also sorry to everyone else for posting a oneshot mid smau its short n cute okay (AND ITS FUCKING CHOSO SO LIKE CMON???) i couldnt help myself !! also the title is lyrics from cupid's chokehold by gym class heroes... okay bye!

Sharing a dorm with Choso was heavenly.

Because of your conflicting schedules, half the time, you rarely actually saw each other. But even when you did, he was the type of roommate to keep to himself; he has his side of the room, and you have yours. Of course, you two talked here and there; he was actually pretty nice company whenever you two were actually in the room at the same time. But more often than not, the only time you would see him was late at night when you were just getting in to go to sleep.

Either way, the point is, you never really saw him around much. Choso was always quick and effective, so by the time you would head back to your dorm after a few of your classes, he would just be heading out or have already left.

Usually, his alarm would go off an hour before his classes, which is ample time for him. He’s done his routine hundreds of times before—doing his hair and eyeliner is practically muscle memory, and at this point he's sure he could do it in his sleep. but not today, apparently. Today his alarm goes off late—half an hour late. Which Choso isn’t panicked by, only slightly frustrated, but it's fine. That still leaves him another half an hour to get ready, so there's still plenty of time given that it only takes him 10–15 minutes to get ready, so it's fine. Everything is fine; he repeats it in his head like a mantra, like if he thinks it and says it enough, he’ll actually believe it.

Choso quickly dresses, then sits at his desk, where a little mirror sits. He sighs as he flips on a lamp and grabs his eyeliner. He doesn’t even have to think about it, instinctively taking the cap off and bringing it to his eye, only for it to crumble as it meets his waterline. Choso cusses under his breath as he blinks, attempting to get whatever fell into his eye out. When that doesn't work, he rubs his eye, only for it to spread eyeliner all across his eye and cheek. He groans, grabbing a cloth to wipe it off with, and once his face is clean, he doesn't even bother trying with his eyeliner again—looking at the time, he’s already wasted more than he wanted doing that. He’ll just do his hair and leave, or else he’ll be late.

Choso stills for a moment, forcing himself to take a deep breath to try and calm the nerves and frustration simmering beneath his skin—it's fine. He nods. Now somewhat calmer, he grabs his hair ties and gets to work… only for one of them to break as he’s trying to put his hair through it. Choso stares at himself in the mirror, eyes narrowed and swallowing harshly, as he desperately tries to ignore the rising heat going to his cheeks.

Whatever.

It's fine.

He’ll just do the other side of his hair...only for the same thing to happen. Choso can actively feel his heart racing—it's pounding against his chest and ringing in his ears—and he’s already too far gone to notice or even stop the tears from falling down his cheeks. He doesn’t really know why he’s actually crying, if he’s being honest. It’s not like this is the end of the world; he knows that, yet he can't stop himself. Too many things have gone wrong, and he’s barely woken up. First, his alarm goes off late, which isn't the most horrible thing within itself, but then his eyeliner crumbles and gets in his eye, and when he tries to wipe it away, it instead smears on his face. Then he rubs his face raw, trying to get it off, and now he can't do his fucking hair because his hair ties suddenly decided to disintegrate and snap in half.

He messily wipes at his tears and tries inhaling deeply for air in a feeble attempt to calm himself the tiniest bit down. It doesn't do anything. In fact, it makes things worse. His tears fall harder, and he’s choking in shallow breaths of air. If anyone walked in right this moment, they’d think something horrible happened, like one of his brothers died. and it's just his luck, or a very obvious lack thereof, when you walk in. Choso immediately starts scrambling to wipe his tears away and hide his face from you as you drop your things in shock—you hadn’t expected him to still be in the dorm, let alone be here crying.

“Holy shit, Choso, are you okay? What's wrong? Did something happen?” You panic, immediately running to his side.

He doesn’t say anything; he just takes in and lets out shaky breaths as he shakes his head, one arm outstretched to keep you at arm's length.

You frown and look around. For what? You’re not sure. Part of you thinks if you look hard enough, you'll find why he’s crying, but all you see are snapped hair ties, a crumbled, unsharpened eyeliner pencil, and a cloth full of eyeliner. That’s when it all starts to make sense. You smile softly at him, who's still hiding his red tear-stained face from you, before you grab his comb and a new pair of hair ties from his desk.

Choso doesn’t know what you're doing when he hears you shuffling around, and he refuses to meet your gaze, filled to the brim with embarrassment at having been caught crying, but his head involuntarily snaps up, looking at you through the mirror, when he feels you start to brush his hair. You're already staring back at him and flashing him a warm smile, not saying a word as you continue to detangle his hair.

“You don't have to do this,” he sniffles, finally calming down enough to say something.

"I know I don't," you shrug. "But I also know it sucks when it seems like nothing is working or going to plan, so..."

"I can do it myself-“

"Choso, just let me do this for you, please.”

He stares at you for a moment, studying your face as if trying to find something, and when he finds nothing but your soft eyes and willingness—your desire—to do this for him, he sighs and nods. You beam and gleefully get back to work on his hair, and Choso finds that he’s no longer embarrassed by being seen crying but rather by the fact he feels like a doll—but the worst part? It's kind of nice.

He likes having someone do this for him with no hesitation; he likes the way your fingers carefully rake through his hair to ensure there's no tangles even though you just combed it; he likes the way you don't tie the ponytails too tight like he usually does, which only results in a pounding headache he can't get rid of; he likes all of it.

He likes all of it so much so that he finds himself closing his eyes in complete bliss, drowning in your gentle touches. You poof up one of his ponytails a bit, ready to tell him you're done, when you look into the mirror and notice his eyes closed, looking like he’s in a whole other world. You can't fight your smile off as you play with his ponytail for a bit longer before slowly wrapping your arms around him and resting your head on his shoulder.

“What do you think?” You whisper, your breath softly fanning against his ear.

Choso opens his eyes, surprised to see you pretty much hugging him from behind, yet he doesn't hate it, not one bit. Too caught up about how much he does not hate this; he doesn't respond, and it makes you nervous.

“Sorry… I know they don't look exactly like how you usually do them, but-“

"No, no,” he cuts you off quickly. “They look amazing... Thank you, y/n...”

You smile, happy with his answer, as you untangle yourself from him and stand up. “You should head out now, Choso; you're late.”

He blinks, totally forgetting about class, and hurriedly stands up. "Right, thank you again,” is all he’s saying before rushing out the door.

You giggle slightly before yawning and making your way to your bed, ready for your usual nap, when Choso comes rushing back into the dorm again. You stare at him wide-eyed, and he simply stares back.

You furrow your eyebrows, confused, and are about to ask if he's okay when suddenly he blurts out:

"I wouldn’t mind if you did my hair again.”

©TODAYISAWTHEWHXLEWXRLD

[keikikait]

ᴄʀᴜꜱʜ (ɢᴏᴊᴏ x ꜰ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ)

this is part 2 of my previous fic, which you can find here

for my other gojo smut, click here!

pairing: gojo x f!reader (not au, gojo is 29, reader is early-mid 20’s)

word count: 2.5k

summary: you’re home from your teacher retreat to nikko, ready for the new term. what you’re not ready for? gojo to come home to you. 

warnings: (FOR THIS PART) SMUT - 18+ ONLY! MDNI, dom!gojo and sub!reader, protected sex (pill, not mentioned but its there) degrading (he uses the word slut), hair pulling, nipple play, spitplay (bye….), light edging, finger/thumb sucking (don’t look at me), use of the words [cock, cunt, and tits], slight oral (f receiving), a bit of angst & a bit of mean gojo, nickname use [baby, pretty girl, doll], no use of y/n

a note: i know i said this would be out next week but it was my day off so i wrote it all today. this is less angst, more smut, but i can’t help myself so there is some angst. also, im sorry i made gojo such an asshole, i promise that he will get better! part 3 will be out soon my loves.

please reblog and like, it means a lot! let me know what you think!

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧

Your eyes are already open when your alarm goes off. 

You didn’t sleep at all. There was no point, even after you finished crying your head hurt too much to sleep, even with some painkillers. You laid there, wide awake all night thinking about Gojo. Did he think of you, too? You turn the alarm off and slide out of bed, your slipper-covered feet shuffling as you make your way around your apartment. 

You brush your teeth and look in the mirror. Your eyes are puffy and swollen, mascara smeared down your cheeks. You pop some spoons in the freezer to cool as you clean yourself up and get dressed. Your phone sits untouched on the bedside table, still plugged in.

You sit on the side of your bed, pressing the now cold spoons against your swollen eyes. You take deep breaths, trying to relax. You had every right to be upset, after all. Gojo has no reason to string you along, whispering sweet nothings in your ear at night about how you’re his girl, his doll, his everything. But that’s exactly what that was. Nothing. Maybe, you think, this is some kind of karma. Some sort of punishment for your arrogance, for thinking you could have what everyone else wants, Gojo, and here—at last—it was.

You put on some de-puffing undereye patches that you keep in the fridge and clean your entire apartment spotless to distract yourself, music blasting from the phone in your back pocket. You finally throw out that dead fern you got as a gift from the school board when you first started, and you finally clean out your fridge of the now moldy condiments you tried once on a whim. You’re washing dishes when the front door opens and, suddenly, Gojo steps inside. He had opted for his dark blue circular sunglasses today, an odd choice for the winter but you didn’t mind it. “Hi,” you say, surprised, pulling off the bright marigold gloves and setting them on the side of the sink to dry. For a second, you think about the absolute state of your eyes. The swelling and puffiness had gone down, and even though he had never seen you cry, you think about the fact that even if he noticed your eyes he wouldn’t care enough to ask questions.

“Hey,” is all Gojo says in response. You wait to see if he says anything else, or if he is going to try to explain himself, but he doesn’t, and eventually moves across your apartment to head to the bathroom. You hesitate before you make your way after him, passing his duffel bag on the floor of your closet, which was unzipped and filled with enough clothes that it was clear that he was going to stay for a while.

You feel pathetic admitting it to yourself but having Gojo there — not just in your apartment, but in your room — feels nice. He doesn’t speak to you yet, but his very presence steadies and refocuses you. As grateful as you are that he came back to you, you are also a little disappointed in yourself, by how dependent you are, how weak. Who were you without him?

Eventually, he faces you, peering at you over the top of his glasses. “Hey, pretty girl.”

You swallow hard, willing yourself to be strong, to finally confront him about all of the false promises and the date with Himiko, but you can’t. Not yet. “Hi, Gojo.”

He smiles, reaching you with just one step and collecting you in his arms, wrapping them tightly around your hips. He leans down and kisses you, for the first time in almost nine days, and you feel yourself giving up, giving all power to him.

After a few seconds, he pulls away, smirking. “I missed you. I’m sorry that I didn’t come home last night…I got carried away.”

You’ve noticed over the past eleven months (yes, you kept track) of your situationship that he uses that term a lot; carried away. He uses it when he gets a little too handsy during the free periods at work and when he stares at you a bit too long during staff meetings. He uses it when he forgets to call or text you and when it seems like you’re the last thing on his mind. Maybe you are. 

You smile, shrugging. “Don’t worry about it, baby. I’m just glad you’re here now.”

He grins, gently running his hands up your back, lightly scratching his nails against you, making you shiver. “Of course. I always come back home to you.” He bends at the knees and picks you up, carrying you the short distance to your bed before laying you down and climbing on top of you. Excitement fills your body as he leans down and starts placing soft kisses along your neck. You arch into him, whining and tugging on his sleeves, and he chuckles. “Relax, doll. Quit acting so desperate. You’re not in charge here, remember?”

You feel drool pool in your mouth and you quickly swallow it. “I’m sorry, Gojo, it’s just that —”

He interrupts you, sliding his thumb into your mouth to shut you up. “I know, baby, I know. You went eight whole days without my touch and now you’re acting like a desperate little slut,” You nod, hoping he won’t tease you this time. He smirks at the dumb look on your face before saying, “Open.” You do, opening your mouth wide and sticking your tongue out a little. He pulls his thumb away and draws back briefly before spitting into your open mouth. You swallow it without his command. You know what he likes.

He grins, kissing your lips once more before kissing down your chin and neck, slowly sliding off your t-shirt. You whine and squirm under him, and after he pulls your shirt off he clamps his hand over your mouth. “Shut up. If you keep whining, I won’t fuck you at all. Is that what you want?” You shake your head vigorously, that’s the last thing you want. He removes his hand before continuing, “Good. Don’t speak unless I tell you to,” You nod, relaxing into your sheets as he kisses down your chest. He pushes your bra up over your tits, groaning as he squeezes them in his hands. “Fuck. I missed my girls.” You would normally scold him for objectifying you, but at this moment you didn’t care. You wanted his hands on you, and you wanted his dick inside of you as soon as possible.

He takes the sunglasses off and brings one of your nipples to his mouth, lightly brushing his lips against it to tease you. He sticks his tongue out and drags it along your nipple in circles, loving the way your thighs fall open and the little sounds you make. He finally, finally sucks your nipple into his mouth, pinching the other one hard just to feel you squirm. He rolls your bare nipple between his fingers while he lightly nibbles on the one in his mouth. Your head is spinning, and all you can do is tug on his hair as he teases you. He lets go of your nipple with a wet pop, a string of saliva connecting it to his lips. He picks it up on his finger and rubs it on your face just to humiliate you.

He kisses down your torso, tugging down your pyjama bottoms and tossing them onto the floor. He kisses your thighs as he pushes them up and against your chest so you’re nice and spread out for him, just as he likes. He notices the wet spot on your plain blue cotton underwear and smirks, rubbing at it with his thumb. “Someone’s eager, aren’t they?”

You take it you can respond to him now. “Fuck, Gojo, please! Please stop teasing me, I already went eight days without you.” The whine in your voice makes him feel so big, so powerful. He barely touches you and you’re already crumbling at his feet. Maybe he should keep you there.

He makes that condescending tsk tsk tsk sound that normally annoys you, but now you can’t help it and you whine and squirm even more. “You’re so desperate, baby. You can’t even handle a little teasing?” He presses his thumb right against your clit, the wet spot spreads even more. “I guess you do have a point, though. I haven’t made you cum since we left for Nikko.” He kisses right above the hem of your underwear before pulling it down, the blue fabric now dangling around your ankle. He moans, pushing your legs back even further and spreading your cunt. 

He spits directly onto your pink little hole, watching as it mixes with your juices. In this moment, you’re his. You’re his everything, his girl, his doll. In this moment you actually mean something to him, when you’re spread out and begging for his attention. He runs his pointer finger down your slit, collecting some spit before dragging it back up to your clit and lightly circling it.

You almost cum on the spot. Days of pent-up horniness and teasing and you’re as sensitive as ever. You bite your lip, looking over at him with nothing but love and affection in your gaze. “Please, Gojo. Please don’t tease me. I don’t know if I can handle it.”

He gets comfortable, moving your thighs over his shoulders as he lays down on the bed. “You’ll take what I give you. Don’t disappoint me.” He circles your clit with his finger one last time before leaning down and sucking it into his mouth. You arch your back, your hands finding solace in his hair as you writhe and moan. He moans at your taste, gripping your hips hard as he gets lost in your cute little cunt. You grind against his face, and he lets you, loving the feeling of your clit against his tongue. He teases your hole with his fingers, sliding his thumb in as he swirls his tongue around your clit in circles. You clench up tight, mumbling praises along with I’m gonna cum! Please let me cum! before he pulls away completely. He laughs at the noise you make, and at the way your face contorts and tears well in your eyes. He slaps the inside of your thigh before standing up and unbuttoning his pants. “Oh, come on. Be a good girl for me, okay?”

You move up on the bed, your back supported by your pillows as he climbs over you. You’ve seen his dick a lot, more times than you can count, but the sheer size of it always surprises you. Thick and long, slightly curved to the left, with a pretty pink tip to match. His balls are big, too, full of cum and practically begging to be in your mouth, which waters as soon as you see it. 

Gojo looms over you, pushing you onto the bed as he slides in between your legs and gets comfortable. He rubs his tip against you, getting it nice and wet so you don’t struggle with the size as he fucks you, at least not too much. In a moment of pure intimacy, he reaches his hand up and rubs his thumb against your cheek, looking at you with an almost adoring gaze. You go to say something to him but all words escape your throat as he pushes his cock into you. You both moan in unison as he slides in and out slowly.

“God,” he groans, leaning down on his elbows and getting right in your face. “I missed you so much, baby. I know I’m such a dick to you, I just can’t help it, you look so cute when you’re angry…fuck, you feel so good.” He isn’t vocal in bed very often, and your heart swells as you get to watch him come undone and make such pretty noises as he does. 

In the heat of the moment, you forgive him. You know you’ll probably regret it, but you can’t stay mad at him when he’s looking at you like you’re the only woman in the world for him. Your smile is cut short by your moan as you manage to say, “It’s okay, Gojo. Please just stay here. Stay here with me.”

Gojo nods, propping himself up on one flat palm as his hips pick up speed. Normally he loves foreplay, he can tease you and edge you for hours, but the time spent without you in his arms and without you wrapped around his cock was too much to bare for him. He knows he fucked up, but he can’t take it back. He’s Satoru Gojo, and he has a reputation he needs to uphold. He’s all run, and you’re all fight, and that’s part of the reason why he feels so drawn to you.

He looks at you, moving to his elbows and reaching up to grab your face and pull you into a kiss. He pulls away and presses his forehead against yours, biting his lip as his hips move even faster. He drops back down to his elbows, your chests pressed together as he shakily moans, “Fuck, fuck, fuck, doll, I’m gonna cum.”

You nod, pulling at the hair at the nape of his neck as you cum around him, clenching down on his cock. He buries his face in your neck as he cums after you, cumming inside of you, like he always does. His breathing is ragged as he lays there, his cock twitching inside of you as his cum spills inside. Gojo eventually moves away from your neck, some of his hair matted to his forehead, slick with sweat. You push the hair back and smile at him, kissing his forehead gently. Even if he didn’t love you, you still loved him. And you think you always will.

He pulls out, immediately getting you a towel splashed with some warm water as he cleans you up. He’s gentle with his aftercare, making sure you’re comfortable, and collecting your water bottle from the living room. You pee before getting dressed, laying with him on the bed. He wraps his arms around you and pulls you close, pressing your face into his chest, and sliding his hand into your hair. He holds you there for a while, your breathing in sync before he leans down and kisses your forehead. 

Gojo puts on a cooking show to watch on your TV, setting the remote aside as he holds you close. He strokes your hair, and your mind starts to drift, and you wonder if he cares about you in the same way you care about him. Are you not good enough for him? Is there something wrong with you? Are you not what he wants? Are you not what he needs? You wake up every morning, hopeful for what’s to come with him, but you spend most of your time thinking about what you’ve already had and what he’s already said to you. You’re missing all these memories—maybe they were never even yours. 

Nothing hurts like he does.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧

part 3 is here

[tieronecrush]

hot & heavy

chapter three: show me how

neighbor!joel x f!reader

series masterlist

series rating: E (18+ only, MDNI)

series summary:

over the course of three summers, joel miller becomes woven into your life. the first summer is spent falling for him; nannying his daughter and sneaking around with him in a burning love affair. you know how you feel about joel, he isn’t so sure about how it all is gonna work. the second summer is brief. a month spent at home after graduation and before you move to boston for your dream job. one look at you, one time hearing your voice, and joel is hooked again. he pines over you for that month, but you think — how is long distance of over a thousand miles going to work for a single dad? the third summer, you return home burnt out and pride bruised from your post-grad life. you need time to feel at home again, like your complete self, so you’ve come back home with no return ticket booked. it’s only a matter of time before joel seeks you out, slowly spending more time with you. without an inevitable end to the summer looming over you both, what chances are you willing to take?

word count: 8.3k (a long-y but a goody)

warnings: NO OUTBREAK (don’t need to worry about the mushies), no use of y/n, inexperienced/virgin reader, age gap (joel is 30/31, reader is 22), canon-divergent (sarah is 7 y/o), nanny au, alcohol use, pet name (sweetheart, darling, sweet girl), polite southern manners, feeling familial and self-pressure, masturbation (f & m), light voyeurism, THIGH RIDING, dirty talk, LATINO JOEL cause it's canon which means there's likely subpar spanish bye!!!

Joel is trying very hard to be a good neighbor.

He can be friendly enough when he needs to be, but he absolutely did not know the kind of place he was moving into. It’s like Pleasantville had a baby with The Truman Show. Everyone here is so nice.

Not that his previous neighborhood wasn’t filled with people who were nice, but everyone pretty much kept to their own business and gave a wave here and had a quick catch-up across the lawn there. Well, except for the Adlers.

And here, they also do neighborhood events.

Which is why he finds himself nursing a can of Budweiser that’s dripping cool condensation in the mid-afternoon Texas heat of late June, surrounded by husbands having conversations about the upcoming football season, the latest Astros game, and their wives. He can’t really add anything to the conversation because he hasn’t kept up on any sports news, was working during the last game, and he’s single.

So fucking single that he spends most nights fantasizing about you, his daughter’s nanny. Or just straight up watching you like some depraved, desperate man.

Which isn’t too far off base, cause it’s what he’s feeling right now as he steals glances of you laid out on a patio lounger next to the aquamarine, chlorinated water. You’re sitting in a white linen cover-up dress, but the thin crepe fabric leaves nothing to the imagination when it comes to your swimsuit underneath. It’s modest enough for a family affair, covering up everything appropriately but it still does something to see your skin exposed in the sunlight, a sheen of sweat coating your body.

He’s noticed some of the neighbors around your age checking you out, even some of the men older than him ogling at you. It was hypocritical to feel the burn of anger — he was eyeing you all the same but to him, it felt a little different. Like you were closer to his than anyone else’s. He saw you every day; knew little things about you like how you always twisted the ring on your right hand around with your thumb or how you always left one last sip or two in every drink you had, never fully finishing them before abandoning them on the counter or in the sink.

Knowing more about you, from tiny details to what you wanted to do with your life, made him feel like he was dipping his feet into the pool of temptation. Every bit he learned made him want more.

And every time he saw you through the window of your bedroom, he jumped in head first into that alluring pool. It felt so right, so justified in the moment to him, but as soon as the lights clicked off on your side and he looked down at his come coating his knuckles, shame slithered up his throat and coated his mouth with bitterness.

Yet, he couldn’t stop. And some nights, he swears to himself that he sees you looking, watching his actions. Like you know exactly what he’s doing and you let him. One time, mind hazed over with pleasure as he got himself off to the sight of you alone and half naked, he even convinced himself that maybe you wanted him to keep doing it.

Joel knew you were flirting at times, but at other times he couldn’t tell if there was any difference between your polite, sweet demeanor and a subtle hint that you found him attractive.

Even if you were into him, there’s no way he could do anything about it.

Joel’s pulled out of his thoughts when he feels a tug on the hem of his swim trunks. His eyes flit down to his daughter, standing next to him with a pout on her face.

“Daddy, can I please go swimming now?”

Joel smooths a hand through her hair, bending down to her level to look her in the eyes.

“Can you give me just a few more minutes, Bug? I gotta talk to Mr. Clark about a job he might need help with at his house. I promise we can go down to the pool right after that.”

Joel’s cool thumb from the beer can swipes across her cheek as Sarah huffs in frustration, crossing her arms over her chest and staying put as a sign of her reluctant agreement. He smiles softly at her, kissing her hairline as he stands again, turning to the neighbor near him to answer his questions about a potential job refurbishing his deck over the weekends.

Wrapped up in conversation, Joel doesn’t notice the tiny footsteps padding away slowly at first, speeding up down the stairs. He doesn’t notice until his hand reaches for her curls, the swoosh of air under his palm tearing his eyes away from Mr. Clark. Panic sets in immediately, Joel excusing himself quickly to go to the edge of the deck to search the large party for his seven-year-old. Flip flops slap loudly against the concrete, the familiar voluminous hair bouncing as she runs towards the open water without anyone there to catch her and no safety floats on her arms.

He deposits his beer on the railing, starting to rush down the stairs to try to catch her but is stopped as he watches what plays out below him.

You saw Sarah, without her dad following behind her, and knew something wasn’t right. Joel had told you that she was still in swimming lessons — Sarah loved the water but she’d only had a few lessons last summer so she wasn’t entirely ready to be able to jump in and swim completely without aid. That pings something off in your mind, instincts kicking in as you swing your legs over the side of the lounge chair and jump up immediately to chase after her. Your arms outstretched wrap around her tiny frame right before the edge of the pool, lifting her away from the water on the other side.

Sarah is in a fit of giggles, the idea of you snatching her a playful game in her childish mind. Relief washes over you and you go along with her giggles, spinning her around and bringing her back over to your chair.

“Gotcha, little miss! You’re eager to swim, huh?”

Sarah’s giggles die down while she’s still in your arms, and as you set her back down next to your seat, Joel jogs over from the stairs to the two of you.

“Mija, you can’t just run off like that. You scared me. And you know there’s no running around the pool, and no swimming without an adult. It’s not safe, is it?”

Joel’s squatting down to look his daughter in the eyes, seriousness evident in his tone but not to the point of anger. He’s calm and collected as he reprimands with reminders and honesty, his voice not ever nearing a louder volume than his normal cadence.

God, he’s such a good dad.

It’s so attractive.

Internally, your palm is hitting your forehead at the flutter of your ovaries. Externally, your eyes roll into the back of your head in a curse to your mind.

“You were taking so long, Daddy! I want to swim now.”

Sarah’s indignant, her actions were completely justified to herself when she didn’t know how it could have ended up.

“I’m sorry that it frustrates you to wait, but you can’t go running off. Next time, give me a reminder, Bug. Sometimes I don’t realize how long I’m taking, it’s a curse your dad has for lack of time management.”

You snort a laugh out, covering your mouth as the comment goes right over Sarah’s head. Joel’s eyes find yours, soft crinkles showing next to them as he grins at your laughter.

He sends Sarah over to her bag sitting a few chairs over to grab her floaties for him to put on, standing up and facing you. Hands slip into the pockets of his shorts, shoulders raising an inch.

“Thank you for grabbing her. I just, I dunno, I just panicked at the top of the stairs. Like seeing everything in slow motion and I was stuck there. But, uh, yeah, thank you for getting to her.”

Voice thick with ignominy, guilt sheening in his eyes as he looks at you with a vulnerability you’d yet to see from the daily interactions with Joel.

A crack formed in your heart at the thought that he was scared, that he feels like he failed in the moment for his feelings overwhelming him. Your head shakes side to side, your feet subconsciously step closer to him and your hand reaches out to sprawl across his bicep with a gentle, comforting squeeze.

“It’s alright, Joel. Nothing happened. Sarah’s totally fine, and still chomping at the bit to swim,” you console, a kind smile on your face, “Besides, I probably wouldn’t be a very good nanny if I didn’t do anything when I was way closer to her. You couldn’t have reached her in time, and I stepped in for you. You didn’t do anything wrong, Joel.”

His shoulders relax, hands slipping from his pockets as he nods.

“Thank you. For all of it.”

“You don’t have to thank me.”

“I know. But I want to.”

The words strike you in your chest, nothing profound said but the emphasis behind them warming you from the inside out like the Texas sun. You swallow, suddenly feeling parched from the heat and breaking the eye contact that Joel was holding with you to look down at Sarah as she approaches you again.

“Can you help put my floaties on?” She hands you the deflated safety devices with a toothy grin, the gap of lost tooth on the left side of her smile making you want to squeeze her from how adorable she looks.

“Course I can, girly,” you take the floats from her, finding the mouthpiece on one and looking back to Joel, continuing before you start to blow them up, “I can swim with Sarah, if you wanna keep chatting with Mr. Clark. I know he wanted to get your thoughts on his deck. You should go back and talk to him, could be an easy job with decent pay. He’s a generous guy. Go be social, charm the pants off of everyone.”

Joel nods and glances over his shoulder to the deck filled with neighbors. He turns toward you again, raising an eyebrow in question.

“You sure, sweetheart? You’re off the clock today, you should enjoy your free time.”

“Spending time with Sarah is fun. Wouldn’t want to spend my afternoon any other way. Plus, what else am I doing? Baking out in the sun like a lizard?”

Joel laughs, a genuine one that you’ve only heard a few times when a joke of yours really gets him, and he nods, bringing a hand up to gently pat your arm.

“Thanks, darlin’. I owe you one.”

The wink he sends you nearly has your knees failing you, a heat sent to your core at the subtle flirtation.

These charged moments between the two of you have been happening much more often, and with your new (almost) nightly routine waiting up for Joel in your bedroom, you’re waiting with bated breath for whatever is built between the two of you to snap and open the flood gates.

More and more, you’re imagining how it would feel to kiss him, how his hand would feel in yours, what he could take from you and what he could give you. There was so much you were admittedly naive about, but everything that you had once been intimated by seemed exciting when you thought of doing it all with Joel.

He’s kind, and respectful, and gentle. He cares. Even when he acts like a grump or teases you, you know there’s something there. There has to be, otherwise you’re going crazy for sure.

Pulling yourself away from your daydreams, you inflate the floaties for Sarah and help her get them on. You pull your cover up over your head, depositing it on the chair you were laid out on. Sarah’s small hand fits in yours, taking slow steps to allow her to keep up with you as you cross the concrete patio to the pool stairs.

The two of you climb down the stairs and into the water, Sarah shrieks and giggles from the chill surrounding her hitting Joel’s ears all the way up on the deck. He’s back with Mr. Clark, having finished hearing him out about what he wants done and offering his services, reaching an easy agreement with him about when he’ll come by to start and what Mr. Clark will pay him.

Joel wanders away from the group, grabbing another beer, this time a Miller Lite.

Not his favorite, but he’ll take what he can get to keep a small buzz around all these people. Nosy, overly polite, and fake people make him uneasy. He's virtually the opposite, and it occurs to him that you are, too.

Maybe that’s why he feels so drawn to you.

Well, that, and you’re one of the most beautiful people he’s ever seen.

Cracking open the can, he leans on the railing with his elbows supporting him and watches you with his daughter. He takes a long sip, combing his gaze over the top half of your torso that’s out of the water as you stand in the shallow end. The bikini top he’d gotten a peek of under your coverup is on full display now, the sweet lilac color with ditsy florals tight across your chest.

He’s seen more of your bare skin from his window, but the bikini top sends a heat to the back of his neck and behind his ears, imagining you over him on his lap and his hand slipped under the swimsuit.

Shaking his head to pull him away from the image, he takes a deep breath and a few gulps of his beer, taking one more look at the two of you splashing around in the water with some of the other neighborhood kids swimming circles around you. He holds back a smile as he listens to your laughter mixed with Sarah’s, chewing on the inside of his cheek before he returns to be social like you told him to.

Eventually, once they’re pruny and antsy again, Sarah and the other kids get out and towel off to play tag altogether in the grassy part of your backyard. You dry off and slip your coverup over your head again, the fabric clinging to you in places that weren’t fully dry. Bare feet pad against the wooden stairs as you climb them, taking a breath to brace yourself before returning into the mass of judgy neighbors.

The contents of the cooler have dwindled, so you opt for a Corona and pop the cap off, weaving in and out of the crowd to find a lime wedge. At the makeshift bar, you grab a slice and shove it down the bottleneck, taking a sip and turning towards a group of neighbors you actually like.

Walking up to the circle, you see your brother, Chris, a kid his age from down street, Ryan, and Joel standing opposite you. Everyone’s talking about setting up a bags tournament, and you volunteer to play as well. One of the young wives offers to pair everyone off into teams, and you get set up with Chris while Joel gets partnered with Ryan.

Everyone playing meanders down to the lawn where the handful of boards are set up for play, and the four of you end up versus each other. Chris and Ryan walk to the far side, leaving Joel and yourself at the opposite end to start the game.

He bends down to collect the beanbags, handing you the blue ones with a grin while he holds the red for himself.

“You ready to lose at cornhole, sweetheart?”

You scoff and roll your eyes.

“No, cause I’m ready to win at bags.”

Joel scoffs this time, letting out a short laugh and giving you a look of disbelief.

“Don’t tell me you’re one of those people, darlin’. It’s called cornhole. Why do you even call it bags? You’re from Austin. We say cornhole.”

“Um, I am ‘one of those people’ cause ‘those people’ are the correct ones. And there are plenty of people living in Austin that call it bags. For example, my dad who taught me the game.”

You turn away from Joel and lob one of your bags onto the board, watching as it skids across the surface and sinks into the hole.

“Your dad is from the Midwest. Doesn’t count, sweetheart.”

Joel tosses his first one, the red bag smacking against the surface and sticking to its place. You look at him with a satisfied, smug smirk.

“It does count. And even more so, everyone in Fort Worth at school calls it bags. People from Texas.”

Your next shot only lands on the board, an annoyed sigh falling from your lips.

“That’s Fort Worth. I’m talking about Austin. Your hometown. You can’t betray us by calling it bags, darlin’. You’re breaking my heart hearing that.”

“Well, then I guess I’ll always be a heartbreaker to you. Cause if I ever call this game cornhole, it’ll be the death of me.”

Joel sinks his next shot, giving you the same pompous look you’d given him.

“Now I can’t be losing you so soon, so we can agree to disagree. But I’m right.”

“Oh my god, no! I am right. And I will be teaching Sarah the correct name for the game.”

The blue bag in your hand lands on the edge of the hole, taking a second to let gravity pull it in. You cheer to yourself and hear Joel’s laugh next to you, your smile softening.

“Now that’s just too far, sweetheart. I draw the line at influencing the youth. My youth, especially.”

Your laugh pulls a smile from Joel, the shot leaving his hand to land right in the hole of the board. He looks back to you, eyes glistening with a tinge of admiration and teasing all in one.

“Fine. I will allow you to parent as you see fit, even if it’s wrong on all moral levels.”

“I can see who’s influencing her heightened dramatics lately.”

You pause, a beat of silence as you try to find a defense for yourself but coming up short. The last beanbag in your possession sails through the air, missing the board completely. A pout tugs your bottom lip out, huffing a sigh out of your nostrils and crossing your arms to watch Joel take his last turn for the round.

His hand twitches at the last second, changing the trajectory of his throw and sending the bag off to the side into the grass.

“I’ll admit, I do come up with…climactic story lines for her Barbies. But it’s to encourage her imagination!”

“I’m just teasin’ you, darlin’. You’re great with Sarah, and we both love having you around this summer. Don’t need to change a thing about you.”

He must mean the words in a friendly manner, but your heart can help but flutter at the thought of Joel enjoying you being around him often.

The game goes for a few more rounds, Joel and you keeping up with each other and tying at the end of each of your turns.

“Guess we’re a pretty good match.” You smile sweetly at him as you reach out your hand as a gesture of good sportsmanship when you and Chris take the win. Joel’s hand envelopes yours, shaking it firmly as a grin tugs one side of his mouth up.

“I think you’re right about that, sweetheart.”

“We’re quitting, this is boring! Sorry, sis! Sorry, Joel!” your brother shouts at you both, sauntering off with his buddy Ryan. Joel looks back at you, shrugging with his hands in his pockets.

“Think we’d be good partners? We could keep up the tournament together.”

A wide smile crosses your face as you nod in agreement.

“Let’s kick everyone’s asses. At bags.” You wink before walking ahead of him back to the group, getting assigned your new opponents.

You spend the next few games across from Joel, sharing knowing glances and grins, communicating with only a look for the rest of your games. You easily climb through the small, single elimination tourney and get to the winner’s game. The pressure, or as much pressure as a friendly, neighborhood game could be when you’re a competitive person, is on with the eyes of everyone eliminated on you. After a tension filled game, both in scoring, and the look in Joel’s eyes that’s sending a tingle throughout your thighs and between your legs, the two of you earn the victory 21-19.

You both cheer goofily, overly celebratory for the simple sport as you rush to the center of the pitch. Joel meets you halfway, laughing as you raise your hand for a high five. He complies, grabbing your hand when it meets his in the air, squeezing it as he drops them together between your bodies. His eyes are darker, filled with a glint of something that intensifies the feeling at your core.

At a barely audible level, his drawl curls around his words as he tells you, “Good job, sweetheart,” with a wink and a sideways smirk.

Your long dried bikini bottoms are soaked at this point, a chill tickling its way down your spine. His hand pulls away from yours, moving to your waist to guide you to the stairs. He follows you up to the deck, and you can feel the burn of his eyes on your eyes through the layers of thin fabric, imagining the subtle jerks of his arm and shoulder that you catch glimpses of from across the lawn on those late nights you unknowingly share with him. Before you can start a conversation to stay near him, or even suss out the electric chemistry that’s reaching towards a peak between you two, you both get pulled away from each other. For the rest of the night, you can’t ever seem to catch up with him, and you resign wistfully to being stuck in a boring conversation with your mom’s friends while your thoughts circulate around Joel.

The sun set an hour ago, the temperature dropping only a few degrees with the night fall. Most of the neighborhood is still mingling around your family’s backyard, those with younger kids all making their way home.

Sarah’s head rests against Joel’s shoulder as he holds her at his hip, adjusting her to hold her higher as he chats with your dad and brother about his last season on LSU’s baseball team. He feels Sarah rub her face against his shirt and glances at her, checking the time on his watch. It’s about half an hour past Sarah’s usual bedtime, and if he doesn’t get her back home, she’s going to be as grumpy as he is without a full eight hours.

Wishing your dad and brother goodnight and thanking them for hosting, he turns to make his way across the deck and glances around in an attempt to find you to say goodnight. It’s Saturday, which means he won’t see you tomorrow, and the thought of that contracts his chest. He can’t think of an excuse to go on a search to seek you out, and without a reason, he meanders back over to his house.

Joel gets Sarah into her pajamas and lays her down for the night, kissing her forehead and smoothing her hair back. He smiles to himself at the peaceful look on her face, rubbing her back gently before shutting off her bedside lamp and closing the door behind him.

Retiring on the sofa, he turns on some reruns of the latest cable show, zoning out on the screen as his thoughts drift to you.

The smell of chlorine on your hair starts to give you a headache, so you make your way inside and up to your room to shower off. Changing into your oversized sleep shirt and shorts, you fall back into bed and grab your book from the nightstand to read some pages to distract your brain before going to sleep.

You glance out your window to see if Joel’s come up to his room, like that first night you had waited for him and every time since then. When you can’t see his silhouette or any lights on in his window, you take a guess that he must be parked in front of the TV since he brought Sarah home.

After a chapter or two of your book, a vibration muffles against your comforter. The book gets discarded, probably losing your page while your hands scramble to find your device before the ringing stops. Right before it rings through, you grab the small phone and hit accept without a chance to check the contact.

“Hello?”

“Hey, sweetheart.”

The raspy drawl crackling through the line raises your heart rate, your eyes glancing to your alarm clock to see the time - 11:48 pm.

Why was Joel calling this late?

“Joel? What’s up? Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong. Well, nothing serious. I, uh, just got a call from Tommy and he’s way too drunk at some bar downtown to drive home. I gotta go get him, but I don’t wanna wake Sarah to put her in the car or leave her by herself here obviously. So I was wondering if you’d—”

“I’ll be right over.”

Joel sighs, full of relief and breathes out his next words filled with gratefulness.

“Thank you so much, darlin’.”

You make a quick goodbye, gathering your phone and slipping out of your bedroom. Downstairs near the door to your garage, you slip on your flip flops and head over across your front yard and Joel’s. The humidity in the air has lessened, but your damp hair still sticks to the back of your neck. Your nails scrape up the hair and hold it off your neck, legs carrying you up the short set of stairs and up to the Miller front door. Your right hand knuckles tap quietly against the painted wood, letting your hair down and rubbing your sweaty palms on your t-shirt.

The door swings open with Joel on the other side, a sleepy grin on his face as he waves you in. He looks soft in his washed out Cypress Hill t-shirt and gym shorts, the vision of him in his version of PJs tugging at the corners of your lips.

“Thank you again for coming over here, darlin’. Sarah’s sleeping, should stay asleep while I’m gone. She was exhausted after tonight.”

Following Joel into the living room, he gestures to the couch and the TV that is still turned on to whatever he was watching before.

“Should be back soon, feel free to hang out here. Help yourself to anything to drink or if you want a snack, you know where everything is.” He smiles at the mention of you knowing your way around, grabbing the keys to his truck and slipping on some sneakers as you plop down onto the couch.

“Sounds good, I’ve got my cell so if you need any more help, text or call. But I’ll be camped out here until you get back.”

“Hopefully won’t need anything else, been dealing with Tommy my whole life. Always gonna be the annoying little brother,” he chuckles softly and lingers near the door, glancing around before his eyes find you again, “Guess I should head out, I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

“Drive safe! And tell Tommy I say hi,” you add with a quiet giggle, watching as Joel shakes his head and laughs to himself, heading out the front door. The truck rumbles to life in the driveway, and you watch from the window as he heads down your street and towards the city.

The engine shuts off in the driveway, and Joel can still hear some echoes of the party carrying on from another neighbor's backyard. Getting Tommy from the bar took way longer than he thought it would, and it’s now 1:26am. Traffic was horrible attempting to cross the city ‘cause of some country show getting out right as he hit downtown, and Tommy wouldn’t answer his damn phone when Joel did get there. He sped back to Tommy’s and basically made him roll out of the car, idling to make sure his brother got inside alright. He was insufferable with his drunk babbling, and now by the time Joel finally got home, he felt a swirl of guilt in his stomach for making you come over. He thought it would be quick, and now he’s slinking inside to apologize profusely for taking an hour and a half.

The front door squeaks on its hinges, the hollow sound of the TV cracking through its speakers at a low volume. You don’t greet him as he slowly clicks the door back in place, locking the deadbolt and kicking off his sneakers into the pile of shoes in the entryway.

Sock covered feet echo muffled thuds across the wood floors of his living room, a grin tugging on his lips when you finally come into view.

Fast asleep, you're laid out on the leather couch with your legs curled into your stomach. One arm’s under the throw pillow your head rests on and the other is bent limply in front of you, fingers wrapped into a loose fist. The movement of your chest is languid and deep with your breaths, lips parted in relaxation and eyelashes resting against your skin.

Painfully angelic.

He’s frozen for a moment across the room, watching you sleep until the time reaches past 1:30am and he knows that he needs to wake you to get you back home and into your own bed. He selfishly wants to let you sleep there, doesn’t want to interrupt any sweet dreams you might be having or the rest you need after taking care of his daughter all week, after helping him too.

Sighing faintly to himself, he moves towards the couch and bends down to gently rub your shoulder to wake you.

“I’m back, sweetheart, you can head home.”

You gasp from the shock of being woken from a deep sleep, scrambling to sit up in a panic with heavy lidded eyes. Your soft touch presses warmly against his thigh through the fabric of his gym shorts, and he looks down at you as you start to fully wake.

“Joel? Oh god, I’m so sorry I fell asleep, I shouldn’t have—”

“Hey, hey, it’s alright, sweetheart. I took a lot longer than I thought I would,” the cozy look in your eyes plucks at his heart strings, and the touch lingering on his leg turns into an electric burn, “‘M sorry you had to sleep on the couch for a bit.”

Your head shakes with a dopey grin, fingers brushing his skin as it slips back towards your lap. The spot once covered with your touch sends a chill throughout his body. His eyes track your motion and his own hand reaches out for you. Large fingers slip between yours, Joel’s gaze returns up from your locked hands. Before you can say anything to him, and before he can overthink, he leans in and catches your lips in a fragile kiss.

Everything stops around him in the moment. The TV is muted in his ears, the chill of the AC isn’t felt with the fire alighting in his gut, his eyes close and bring him into an abyss where all he can feel is the plush of your lips against his and all he can smell is the candied scent of your green apple and lime body wash mixing in his nose with the bluebell and jasmine notes of your shampoo. It’s overwhelming, the way you have completely surrounded him with one kiss.

Your mouth is still against his for a few more beats, Joel imagining the shock you must be in and he immediately feels his stomach drop in a rush.

Fucking idiot. Why would you think it would be okay to kiss her? She’s obviously uncomfortable and now you are going to have to grovel out an apology for being creepy and completely unprofessional.

Joel’s head moves back to break the kiss, his eyes opening with dread flooding them. Scanning your own expression, he can’t quite read you.

“Darlin’, I’m so sor—”

“Do it again.”

Now Joel is still with shock, confusion contorting his face as his head tilts minutely.

“What d’you mean, sweetheart?”

“Do it again,” the smooth skin of your hand trails up his arm, across his shoulder, and wraps around the side of his neck, “Kiss me.”

His brain takes a few seconds to process your words and fire actions to his nerves and muscles, but when everything finally connects in him, he’s leaning in and molding his mouth to yours in a deeper exchange.

With hands intertwined, he reaches his other up to caress your cheek. His fingers splayed across your face, grazing the line of your jaw as you sigh into his mouth. The slight part of your lips with the exhale gives him a chance to lick into your mouth, his tongue tasting yours. Your hand on his neck tugs to pull him over you further, his back aching at the angle.

He pulls apart from you, breaths shallow as his eyes search yours for any signs of wanting to stop. When he can’t find any, he moves to sit on the couch, arms wrapping around your waist and pulling you to straddle his lap.

Joel chases your honey kisses, taking peck after peck as his hands run over your back. He feels your hands scratch into his five o’clock shadow, groaning against your lips when you sit back on his thigh and the front of your shorts brushes against his semi-hard cock in his pants.

Kisses intensify, heating up again. Joel’s hands skim down your back and each grab a handful of your ass, coaxing a small whimper from your lips. The sweet sound flips another switch in Joel, his hips canting up against you as he feels himself swell more in his pants.

Against your lips, he rasps out, “Y’have no idea how much I’ve wanted to kiss you since I met you, darlin’.”

“You could’ve. I’ve wanted it just as much…” you breathe out, a soft whine slipping after, “Don’t know how you didn’t—didn’t notice how much I wanted you.”

Joel’s mouth presses kisses at the corner of your mouth, along your jaw, and down your neck. He nips at your lush skin, moaning quietly and fanning out humid air at your collar. His hips grind up against you again, your inhale catching in your throat in a gasp.

“I noticed, sweetheart. Trust me, I noticed. Just couldn’t bring myself to touch you. Didn’t wanna make you uncomfortable,” his words tumble out in a lustful haze, the taste of you and the feeling of you lowering his inhibitions, “But I wanted you so bad. Ached for you, darlin’, and when I saw you in your window from my bedroom one night, dressed in nothing but those sweet little white lace panties you got, I watched you putting lotion on and fucked my hand. Felt so good watching your hands all over yourself, wanted ‘em to be mine.”

He moves one of his hands from your ass, slipping it between your bodies and groping one of your breasts through the thin material of your sleep shirt. You moan his name louder than before, your smaller hand gripping right onto his shoulder. He catches your lips in a kiss again to stifle your noises to be sure you two wouldn’t wake Sarah.

Your lips detach from his with a smacking sound, eyes looking into his blown wide with wonder.

“I knew you were there. I did it for you.”

Joel stares at you in disbelief, lips parted as he waits for you to continue.

“I wanted you so badly, that I thought—I thought if you saw me, it would maybe make you see me. Think I’m pretty or something. So I waited for you that first time, glancing over until I finally saw you in the window. And when I noticed you staring, I started to change my clothes but that wasn’t going to be enough cause it would be over so soon. So I put on my lotion. I could see you sitting there when I looked out my window, and I just—I guessed what you were doing cause I saw your arm moving and your head tilted back a lot. And it seemed like you liked it, so I kept doing it for you, and waiting for something to finally happen.”

His cock is rock hard and throbbing for some kind of attention. He can feel a wet spot forming on the fabric of his boxers from his pre-cum leaking out of him.

You knew. You saw him getting off to watching you parade around your room mostly naked. You liked it, and you kept doing it for him.

It’s the hottest thing anyone’s ever told him.

“Aren’t you a sweet little thing, huh darlin’? You did that for me every time?”

Joel uses the hand that was on your breast to brush your hair behind your ear, eyes piercing yours. He can see the shyness in you still, the hesitancy coating your expression and shaky breaths.

“Uh huh.”

“You wanted me to feel good? All those times, I got to take care of myself, but nobody took care of you?”

An audible swallow cuts the silence you’ve created, a shrug of your shoulders before your meek voice vibrates Joel’s ears.

“Um, sometimes—sometimes I would touch myself or rub against one of my pillows after I turned out my light. Not every night, but when I really needed to I did.”

A pout juts Joel’s bottom lip out, his head shaking back and forth.

“Mmm, poor thing having to touch yourself, bet it didn’t ever feel like enough, huh? Probably were thinking about my hands, my mouth, my cock. Am I right, sweet girl? Were you wishing I would find you in your room and make you come?”

His words are shooting right to your cunt, fluttering inside of you and soaking your panties. This moment is more than enough for you to have your imagination run free, even if Joel never so much as kissed your cheek again. But his voice is addictive, his touch setting of ripples of goosebumps and making your body feel as if it’s filled with helium. You thought you would float to his ceiling if he wasn’t holding onto you so tight.

“Yes, yes I wanted that,” you close your eyes, the contact with Joel’s too much as you work up the courage to spill out the embarrassing reality that you’ve been dreading to tell him if you were ever caught in a moment like this, “I’m, um, I’ve never had anyone…”

Joel’s one hand plays with your hair and the other squeezes your bum gently. Your eyes open to see him staring at you full of doting affection.

“You’ve never had anyone touch you? You’re a virgin?” Your eyes cast down to the graphic on his t-shirt, nodding and feeling that meager inadequacy you’ve felt when the confession has come up to other guys and boyfriends in the past.

It wasn’t like you were saving yourself for any reason, it just never felt like the right moment. You never really wanted it with anyone in the past, and you took it as a sign when most guys, especially during college, would bolt after you told them. Your friends comforted you, after the first time telling you how shitty guys were and how they all had this complex that girls become obsessed and clingy with the guys they lose it to.

You braved yourself for that moment to happen now, waiting for Joel to tell you that ‘this wasn’t going to work’ or ‘that it’s getting kind of late’.

“Nothing wrong with that, sweetheart. We can do whatever you're comfortable with. Including doing nothing if that’s what you want.”

“What?”

Your head snaps up in surprise, facing writhe with skepticism. In Joel’s expression, you can’t find any signs of him being humorous or lying to you.

“I said, we can take this at your pace. I’d be happy just having you near me, pretty girl. I don’t wanna pressure you into anything.”

“No, no. You’re not,” your hands run across his broad shoulders, leaning in to press a featherlight kiss to his lips, “I want it with you, all of it. What I’m missing out on.”

His chuckle fills your ears, not laughing at you maliciously but as if you’re endearing to him.

“That can all happen eventually, darlin’. Not tonight,” Joel gives you a heady, yet tender kiss, pulling you by your waist over to his right more. Your knees lay on either side of his thigh, and you stare at him when he pulls back from you.

“How about tonight, you just show me how you make yourself come? I want you to show me what you like. Wanna see your beautiful face when you come. That alright with you, sweet girl?”

“What d’you mean?”

He’s patient with you, a warm palm running along your side as his head tilts.

“You rub your pretty little clit against my thigh. Just like one of your pillows. That okay? Think you’ll feel good doin’, sweetheart.”

“Okay, yeah. I wanna try it.”

Joel’s smile is sweetened as he looks at you, pressing a quick kiss to your lips. He pushes you to stand from his lap for a moment, holding you up on shaky legs while one hand tugs down the waistband of your shorts a few inches. He looks up at you through his long lashes (why do men always have the best lashes?) and presses a kiss to your hip bone.

“Can I take these off for you, darlin’?”

You nod slowly, feeling the words get caught in your throat as tension builds between the two of you.

“Need you to tell me. Always need to hear your words.”

Swallowing hard, your throat clears with a barely there hem and your voice comes out thick with want.

“You can take them off. Please take them off.”

Joel moves with your consent, smoothly pulling your cotton shorts down your legs and dropping them to the ground. He leans forward and grazes his lips along your thighs with a warm exhale, ending his exploration with a suckling kiss.

“Such a sweet, polite girl. How’d anyone resist you?”

His hands grip the backs of your thighs, bringing you into his lap and settling you over his right leg again. You whimper at the feeling of your weight pressing your clit against his thigh, the moment of friction as he adjusts your positions sending a jolt of energy throughout your bloodstream.

“Alright, pretty girl, you just move your hips how you do in your bedroom alone. Right here against my thigh.”

Hands on his shoulders brace yourself as you give your hips one roll against Joel, the wetness of your cunt leaking from your panties and onto his skin. When you pull back, you can see the slightest hint of sheen on him, mouth falling open at the sight of part of you marking him, even temporarily. A slow rhythm builds, Joel’s large hand encasing one of your ass cheeks and the other on your waist to help you find your pace.

“I imagined you over me like this all the time. Y’know what I would say to myself when I was looking at you, sweetheart?” The timbre of his deep drawl vibrates against your eardrum as he leans his head in to press a kiss right under your lobe.

“W-What would you say?” your voice is high-pitched and throaty, eyes screwing shut as you focus on his voice and the feeling of your clit dragging against him.

“I would say things like ‘Quiero saborearte’ and ‘Apuesto a que te sientes tan apretada y mojada’ and ‘Quiero dártelo’. Do you know what any of that means?”

Is he really giving you a Spanish lesson right now?

When you don’t answer, his hands grip you tighter and skid your hips to a halt, a whine pulled from your lips involuntarily as you look at him.

“I asked you if you understood what I said, sweetheart. I wanna know. Then you can keep going.”

He’s being serious, and you huff out a breath in frustration before you respond.

“All I understood is ‘quiero’ which is ‘I want’ and ‘saborear’ is to savor? I think?”

Joel rumbles out a satisfied hum, removing his hands from you completely. At the freedom, you move your hips faster, your arousal forming a wet spot on his shorts and skin. Quiet moans of his name are the only thing that you can speak as you listen to him again.

“‘Quiero saborearte’ is ‘I want to taste you.’”

Oh fuck.

His hands grip you again, moving you in figure eights to grind you harder on his leg.

“‘Apuesto a que te sientes tan apretada y mojada’ means ‘I bet you feel so tight and wet.’”

“Fuck, Joel…”

His dark chuckle cuts through after your breathy adlib, the burning hot coil in your gut twists tighter.

“God, you look so pretty like this. Can’t wait to see what you look like when I have my fingers or tongue on you. I know I’ll get you screaming my name.”

Smug fucker.

“And ‘Quiero dártelo’ translates to ‘I want to put it in.’ Is that what you thought about when you were making a mess on your pillows, sweet girl? Thought about me giving you my cock?”

“Joel, I-I’m gonna—“

“I know, sweetheart, I know. Let go, come on my thigh.”

That’s when the dam breaks and you're swept up into the flood of pleasure that washes over you like a tidal wave. All you can respond to Joel is “yesyesyes” as your eyes roll back into your head with your jaw dropped, his hands continuing to slide your hips back and forth to ride out your orgasm.

“So beautiful, darlin’…”

The feeling dissipates eventually, your chest heaving breaths to slow your heart rate down. Your eyes meet Joel’s again, a Cheshire smile wide across his face as he leans in and kisses you passionately. He pulls away, pressing quick pecks on your lips and around your cheeks, coaxing a laugh from you. You press his back against the couch, grin filled with a shy affection as you stare at him. You move to stand on your knees to climb off of him, your leg brushing his bulge and feeling his cock twitch in his shorts. Eyes snap back to his, a curious expression covering your features.

“Can I do something for you?”

“Another time, sweetheart. S’real late now, probably should get back home to get some sleep.” Joel thumbs your lip as you pout, wrapping around him in a tight hug.

“I don’t wanna leave.”

“I know, darlin’, I wish you could stay with me all night. But wouldn’t be the best look for you to walk home tomorrow morning from my house in your little PJs.”

You sigh deeply, pressing a light kiss to his neck before sitting up again and nodding in understanding.

“You’re right. I should get home,” you stand from the couch and pull on your shorts, slinking over to the front door with him in tow to slip into your flip flops, “See you Monday?”

You look up at him with wide, doleful eyes filled with hope, relief washing over you as he pulls you into him and gives you a breathtaking kiss.

“Can’t wait for it, sweet girl. Have a good Sunday.”

He sends you out the door after one, or a few, last kisses, standing in the doorway to make sure you get in alright.

Feeling your mind in the clouds and floating on adrenaline, you glide up to your room and flop onto your bed. Laying with your thoughts recounting the last hour of your life, you’re only pulled out when your phone buzzes with a message.

Joel:

Think you can sit up on your bed, sweetheart?

The message confuses you for a second until it clicks and you sit up quickly, turning on your mattress to face your window.

Joel’s lights are on for once in his room, his silhouette standing in the window. One hand supports him against the glass, shirt off and shorts pulled a few inches down his thighs. His arm flexes as he jerks his cock, breath fogging up the spot he’s closest to.

A wave of arousal rushes to your core, watching him on full display unlike every other time you’ve been the one to put the show on for him. It only takes a moment looking at you sitting on your bed, even in your pajamas, before his head is rolling back, jaw dropped and hand against the window clenching into a fist as he paints his hand with his come.

You fall back onto your bed when he walks out of sight, assuming he’s cleaning up. One more buzz sounds before you turn your light out, a second message from Joel:

Need you to stay late on Monday.

taglist: @beskarandblasters @undrthelights @swiftispunk @joelsversion @clingontolife @elizabeth01585 @wandaandellie @asirenbyanyothername @ellenmunn @ja-ehyun @livinxdeadxgrl @sw33tp1xie @starsandsaints07 @marisemonteiroo @brunetteeras @whydontyoysaynodoja @beee-haw @shmaptainshmerica07 @jenna-mcgraw19 @whore-4-pedro @spursgirl14-blog @katifefe @joelmillerswifu @itsgiorgiaz @soph55 @grapejuicesny @wild-hearts-runfree @youcancallmeelle @lisa-ru @jupitren @ziggy-star @miaispunk @oneofutoo @starkovli @thatgeminigirlx @marchai @bunnyskisses @houseofballoonsth @casual-obsessions @pedro-pascal-lvr @bimbodolls-world @burningnerdchild @tuquoquebrute @mrsvedder12 @estelivi28 @helllsent @bongsrconfusing @addictedtotlou @brittmb115 @angie2274 @owod3 @pedrostories @pedroholicx @theelishad @johnwatsn @sunakochansama43 @elissaaa @felicityofbakerstreet @atinylittlepain

[butwhyduh]

Hi hiii if your reqz are open can I pls pls ask for 'All the other friends abandoned the movie night' for Jason todd x reader (titans jason would be great but honestly any Jason at all will do perfectly fine! 💕)

No warning. It’s cute fluff

Movie cued up, popcorn popped, movie room cleaned and candles lit. Then the phone rang and you already knew.

“Hello?”

“Heyy,” said Dick. “We’re kinda in a situation and won’t make it tonight.”

“Cape situation?” You said, sitting up. Jason looked over at you concerned from across the couch.

“No nothing like that. It’s- well, I’ll tell you later,” he said with a tense laugh. “Have fun. Gotta go.”

“Okay. Bye,” you said before turning to Jason. “Dick and Kori aren’t going to make it.”

“Gar just texted that him and Raven are stuck downtown with all the snow,” Jason replied.

“Well.. I definitely made too much popcorn,” you said tossing a kernel at Jason. He easily dodged it.

“That’s how you treat guests? I see how it is,” he chuckled while lightly tossing a pillow at you. Your heart beat a little faster. You’d always thought he was attractive but never had the courage to act on it. Somehow fighting killer robots was easier than telling someone you liked them.

“You’re lucky you’re a guest. Otherwise I’d have you hanging from the ceiling by your toes,” you quipped. He sat back on the couch next to you to reach in the popcorn bowl.

“Damn, good thing I didn’t put my shoes on your coffee table. Who knows what horrible punishment you’d come up with.”

“That’s classified information. Wanna start the movie?” You said.

“Sure.”

The movie was a slasher horror movie. As the film started, Jason reached up and turned off the overhead light leaving the lamp, candles on the coffee table, and the horror movie as the only light sources. You scooted close to Jason. Your legs touched and he looked over subtly before going back to the movie. His eyes wandered down to look at your legs in tights and a shorter skirt.

On the screen the killer used a large hatchet to attack teenagers in a ski lodge. He sharpened the weapon in the garage before sneaking in their rooms.

“Not my weapon choice but the aesthetics aren’t too bad. Could be a worse choice,” Jason muttered and you looked up at him with a shocked laugh. He was so close. You could see the light bouncing off his jaw and his eyelashes as he looked down at you.

“Maybe don’t identify with the villain,” you teased. “Some people might find it creepy.”

He grinned and put his arms on the back of the couch. “What can I say? I’ll leave the hero work to someone else.”

The movie was all but forgotten as you turned to him. “And what do you think you do?”

“Fix shit mainly,” he replied with a smirk. He looked down at your lips as you grinned up at him. His arm dropped down over your shoulder.

“And why is that different?”

“That’s classified.”

You couldn’t help but touch a scar on his arm where he had saved you in a fight. He looked down before staring at you as you slid your finger up the scar and onto another scar. Your hand was barely touching his mid arm but Jason felt chills up his spine. He always had a soft spot for you.

“I think it’s bullshit,” you whispered in a teasing tone. He turned towards you even more. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Why do you say that?”

“You’ve saved my ass too many times.”

“Maybe your ass is very save-able.”

“Think of my ass often, Todd?” You quipped.

“Occasionally. Sometimes,” he replied. Jason pushed hair out of your face. “That doesn’t make me a hero to save you. I might just like saving you.”

“What makes me so special,” you asked as his hand lingered on the side of your face.

“Everything,” Jason answered simply before leaning forward as you turned your head. Your lips softly brushed together. His hand slid to cup the back of your head and you wrapped an arm over his shoulder.

The movie was forgotten in the background. Even the screams of the victims and the chainsaw of the killer couldn’t pull you apart as you made out. Luck was really on your side as the Titan Tower was usually full of people.

Well, luck for a little while.

Jason’s hand brushed over the fishnet on your thigh as the door opened.

“We made it!” Said Gar before falling silent. You and Jason broke apart quickly. “Awkward.” Gar was overflowing with shopping bags in both arms and Raven carried a few as well.

“Let’s go put these in the kitchen,” Raven said while pushing him out of the room.

“Save me some popcorn,” Gar called as he was dragged from the room.

Jason chuckled a little as he wiped his lip. You rolled your eyes. You turned towards the screen but still sat closely to Jason. Maybe 10 minutes later Gar and Raven joined you both. The movie ended and there was a small argument between the group before another movie was put on. As this movie played, Jason’s arm reached over your shoulder and down your arm to hold your hand.

Dick and Kori came in the tower rather loudly. They walked in slowly and Dick seemed to deflate upon seeing the four of you sitting on the couch.

“I told you two to come back hours later,” he said while rolling his eyes.

Jason looked between Dick and Gar. “Did you all plan this? Was this a forced date?”

“Yeah, but when we came in you were kissing so it worked,” Gar replied in earnest.

[oddballwriter]

Triplets?!

Summary: A dumb thought I had and decided to write. 

Warnings: There isn't anything that I can think of other than just a misunderstanding that leads to something funny 

Author’s Snip: This was just a silly little post that I had come to mind when I heard the one MBMbam clip where its a person talking about how they call their male friends their "boys" and a drive thru worker thinks that the person is a parent, also a little bit of Reba McEntire's I'm a Survivor "A single mom who works two jobs who loves her kids and never stops" meme. This whole thing is kind of just a writing shit post.

Notes: This isn't proof read 

I’ll shut up now. Enjoy! And don’t be afraid to request.

It was an inside joke. With yourself.

As a joke you would call your Marc, Steven, and Jake your triplets even though they were your boyfriends. It was kind of like when a mom says "I have two children, three if you want to include my husband.". It wasn't meant to be mean. It was just a light hearted joke since they can sometimes be everywhere and your sense of domestically can be hectic.

Speaking of domestic things, you were currently grocery shopping but line was painfully long and slow for whatever reason. It wasn't all bad though. There was this nice lady named Cathy behind you, and you two had started having a full conversation after she made small talk about how long the line was. She was an older woman, maybe in her mid to late forties. You had offered to switch spots in line since she had more in her cart than you but she said she didn't mind and that you should be quicker either way. You could tell she was a mom just by the looks of her and how she was acting. She wasn't exactly mothering you but she was talking like how most moms talk to younger people compared to her.

Your conversations topic had just changed to something else when your phone rang. It was Steven.

"Oh, one of my triplets." you mumble under your voice before answering. The call wasn't much. He just called to ask if everything's alright since you've been out for longer than you said you would and some other things before you ended the call with an "I love you, bye.".

"Wow. Three of them? Huh?" Cathy smiled. You looked at her confused for a moment before realizing that she might have heard your mumble.

"That must be chaos." she said. "I have issues wrangling my kids and they're all different ages!" she adds with a laugh. You just nod along, but she still goes on with the new subject.

"How old are they?" Cathy asked, to which you respond with "Thirteen." since that seemed like a reasonable age for a 'kid' to have a phone. "Oh my gosh! Three of them and they're teenagers?" she pitied. "At such a young age like you too. Sweetheart, you deserve a metal." Cathy praised. "It's not that bad." you say as you try and go along with this accidental act you placed on yourself, "Only one of them is a troublemaker. The other two... well they stay inside at least." you joke, mostly for yourself.

Cathy had actually become very chatty and mostly took up the subject. She talked about how her eldest, Kimberly, was sixteen and that she was starting to talk to boys and stay out. Her second eldest, Noah, was starting to have an attitude with her. The middle, Jackie, was having issues in getting along in the classroom and during recess. And her toddler, Marie, was leaning manners and "That's going as good as you think it is." as Cathy put it.

You wanted to stop her so that you could leave but she was just so nice, and sounded like she needed to vent out some stress, so you let her go on while the casher checked out both you and her carts. Cathy did give you the note that her husband was also involved in the kids too but since she's a stay at home she was the frontline.

You felt a bit sad when you had to leave and head home. You didn't know if you'd meet Cathy ever again but you already missed her and said your goodbyes to her, with her of course saying "And best of luck with your triplets.".

When you got home Steven was there to help take in the bags but at a certain point when you locked eyes and laughed he asked what was up.

"There's a forty-something year old woman named Cathy somewhere in town and she thinks I'm a parent with teenage triplets." you confess.

[sunkissed-zegras]

✮ 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝟐'𝐬, jump then fall au!

au masterlist! masterlist!

♡ ─ word count | 1.9k

♡ ─ summary | a week into cece being the fantilli's official nanny, paloma is going through the terrible two tantrums and adam doesn't know how to deal with it.

♡ ─ warnings | unedited, fluff, anxiety, toddler tantrums (ofc), mentions of being tired, idk ?? nothing else!

♡ ─ taglist | @literatureluster @itsnotgray (fill in form in my navigation in you are interested!)

♡ ─ ev's notes | aaaaa this series is finally in full swing, i am so excited. ALSOOO PLEASE SEND IN ANY THOUGHTS U HAVE WITH THIS AU, i love when yall have your own little headcanons it literally makes my day. also, how would u guys like this to be formatted? like chapters or like.. something else??? idk but anyways, ily u all and enjoy this fic!!!!!

Adam rambled on nervously about Paloma's snack for about the fifth time as Cece followed him into the kitchen, nodding along to every word he was saying. She knew he was nervous to leave Paloma alone so she tried her best to seem interested even though he's repeated the same thing for what seemed like the millionth time.

As Adam rambled on, he suddenly stopped mid-sentence, an embarrassed flush creeping onto his cheeks. He realized he had been repeating himself, and Cece had been patiently listening the whole time.

"Sorry," he chuckled nervously, running a hand through his hair. "I guess I'm just a bit on edge with leaving Paloma alone. I want everything to be perfect for her."

Cece shook her head in understanding, "No don't even apologize! I appreciate it, I do tend to forget about stuff. And I get it, the first time is always the hardest."

Adam sighed, feeling grateful for her understanding. "Thanks, Cece. I know I can be a bit... overprotective sometimes."

"It's a good quality, especially when it comes to being a dad," she replied warmly. "I get it, I go crazy for my little brother. I'm pretty sure I would commit a crime for him," you joked playfully.

Adam chuckled, the tension in the room easing as he appreciated Cece's sense of humor. "Yeah, me too. Paloma is my world, and I'd do anything to make sure she's safe and happy."

Cece smiled warmly, a genuine warmth in her eyes. "I can tell you're a great dad, Adam. Paloma is lucky to have you." Her smile carried her feelings and she saw herself in Adam as he talked about Paloma. She was the same with her brother and her little nephew and niece.

His expression softened, and he returned the smile. "Thanks, Cece. That means a lot."

Comfort silence filled the kitchen before Adam got a phone call and cursed under his breath, "Shit, I'm late."

Cece watched as Adam's expression shifted from one of warmth to a sudden realization that he was running late. She could sense the urgency in his voice as he cursed softly.

"I gotta get going but call me if anything happens. And if I don't answer, call Luca or mom. Oh, you don't have my mom's number, let me give it to you in case-"

Cece let out a soft laugh as she put a hand on his shoulder in comfort, "It's fine, Adam. Don't worry I'm sure I'll get a hold of you, alright? Just relax and get to your meeting in one piece."

He took a breath and then laughed along with her, even though there was still some anxiety running through his veins. He nodded, "Alright, sorry about that, you're right." This was part of the process, it would be okay.

"Don't apologize, you're okay." Cece still had an understanding expression on her face as Adam took another deep breath before walking to the door and taking his keys.

"Alright, I'll see you in a couple hours. Paloma's sleeping right now but you remember-" He saw her expression and then let out an anxious sigh before nodding. "You got it?"

"I got it, boss." You joked playfully as he smiled. "Bye,"

"Bye." He took one more look around his apartment before leaving the apartment.

As Adam left for his meeting, Cece stood in the doorway, watching him until he disappeared from view. She then turned her attention back to the apartment, a newfound sense of responsibility settling in her heart. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to check on Paloma, who was still peacefully sleeping in her room.

The apartment was quiet, save for the gentle sounds of Paloma's breathing. Cece couldn't help but smile as she looked down at the sleeping toddler.

──

A FEW WEEKS LATER

──

Adam walked into the apartment after a long and grueling practice, his body feeling the weight of exhaustion. The familiar scent of home welcomed him as he closed the door behind him. He let out a sigh of relief, glad to be back in the comfort of his own space.

He entered the living room, he noticed the soft glow of dimmed lights and the sound of gentle music playing in the background. It was a scene he had grown accustomed to since Cece had become a part of their lives.

He made his way to the kitchen, where he found Cece cleaning Paloma's dishes. She looked up and smiled warmly when she saw him. "Hey, Adam. How was practice?"

She could tell he was tired, he has been for the entirety of the week. She respected how hard he worked at practice and how he still had energy for Paloma, even after an exhausting practice.

Adam stretched his tired muscles and replied, "Long and exhausting, per usual, but it's done. How's Paloma?"

Cece's smile widened. "She's been an sweetheart. We played and watched a Barbie movie, had dinner, now she's asleep in bed."

Adam felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had been anxious about leaving Paloma in someone else's care, but seeing how well Cece was handling everything put his mind at ease. Right as he was about to respond, the familiar cry of Paloma rang through the apartment.

Cece, out of habit, immediately dropped the dishes into the sink and walked out of the kitchen before Adam spoke, "Cece, it's fine. Let me go see what's up."

"Oh, alright-"

This had been a problem for the past week, Paloma throwing tantrums right after being put to sleep. Adam had tried everything he could think of to soothe her, but nothing seemed to work.

He made his way to Paloma's bedroom and found her sitting up in her crib, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Hey, sweetheart, what's wrong?" he asked softly as he lifted her into his arms.

Paloma clung to him, her tiny hands gripping his shirt as she continued to cry.

Adam's heart broke at his daughter's cries. He held her close and whispered soothingly, "It's okay, Paloma. Daddy's here, and you're okay." His arms were sore from practice but he couldn't get himself to leave her as she continued to cry loudly.

He gently rocked her back and forth, his heart aching as he tried to comfort her. Paloma's cries gradually subsided, and she nestled against his chest, her breathing slowly evening out. He didn't want to put her back in the crib because he didn't want to her wake up again and cry, so he stayed like that for a few seconds even if he was exhausted.

Cece walked in quietly and Adam put his finger on his finger to singal to be quiet. Paloma made a soft noise and Adam let out a sigh of exhaustion but to his surprise, she didn't start crying again as she saw Cece.

Instead, she sat up in Adam's arms and reached out to Cece, making a soft, wanting sound. Cece couldn't help but let out a laugh, her heart warmed by the sight of Paloma's tiny outstretched arms.

Adam slowly gave Paloma to Cece and she immediately held onto her, putting her head on her shoulder and her eyes immediately shut.

Adam watched with a mixture of relief and admiration as Paloma snuggled into Cece's arms, her cries now fully replaced by contentment. He had been worried about leaving her alone with the Cece, but this moment reassured him that he had made the right choice.

Cece held Paloma gently, her heart melting at the trust Paloma was placing in her. She swayed softly, creating a soothing rhythm that seemed to lull Paloma back into a peaceful slumber.

Adam couldn't help but smile at the sight. His daughter was finally finding comfort and security in the presence of another person. He made a gesture to the door to silently say he was going to leave and Cece gave him a sweet smile and a thumbs up with her free hand. As he left the room, his heart swelled at the new memory. He felt himself get used to Cece and Paloma together, it was a new welcome sight.

After he took a shower, he walked into the kitchen and he heard Paloma's bedroom door open quietly and then he turned to see Cece. She caught his gaze and smiled before walking up to him.

Adam felt comfortable as he saw Cece approaching him from the hallway. There was something comforting about her presence, something that put him at ease. He couldn't help but return her smile with a warm one of his own.

"Hey," she greeted softly, her voice carrying a sense of warmth and ease. "Paloma is back to sleep. I think she just needed a little reassurance."

"Good, I'm glad. Hopefully she sleeps the whole night." Adam sighed and he still sounded tired after his shower. You couldn't help but feel bad for him, you knew how much sports and a career could take a toll on a person. She couldn't even imagine on top of all of that, having a toddler to take care of. "And thanks, Cece. You're great with her."

She waved off his gratitude. "It's my pleasure, Adam. I enjoy spending time with her, she's such a sweet girl and she makes my job so much easier."

He nodded in agreement as he listened to her compliment. "She can be handful sometimes, but she's the best thing that's ever happened to me." There was a softness in his eyes as he spoke about his daughter, a deep love that was evident in every word.

Cece smiled warmly, her heart warmed by the genuine affection Adam had for Paloma. "It's clear how much you love her, Adam. It's beautiful to see."

Adam's gaze met hers, and for a moment, time seemed to slow down as they shared a silent connection. There was something about Cece that drew him in, something he couldn't quite put into words. He immediately internally yelled at himself, he couldn't ─ not with his nanny.

He cleared his throat, breaking the momentary silence. "Well, I'm glad you're here," he admitted, his eyes still fixed on her. "It's nice to have some company too."

Cece's smile brightened, and she took a step closer to him. "I'm here whenever you need me, Adam. For both of you." Her eyes widened as Adam looked back at her and she suddenly felt self-conscious. "Like, in a friend way. Of course," she laughed nervously.

Adam couldn't help but notice the sudden shift in Cece's demeanor, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly at her nervous laughter. He appreciated the clarification, even though part of him was tempted to explore where that unspoken connection might lead to.

"Of course, Cece," he replied with a warm smile. "Well, you're my first official friend in Ohio. Well, other than the team."

She returned the smile, "I'm honored, Adam." She laughed at that and he joined in a second later. The laughter filled the kitchen before she felt her phone buzz in her pocket.

"Oh shoot, I gotta get going. I have to pick up my friend,"

"No problem, Cece," Adam replied, his smile still lingering. "Thanks for taking care of Paloma tonight. And get home safe, text me when you get home." He wanted to self-palm himself after that one but Cece just smiled warmly at that, making all the anxiety melt away.

"I will, thank you. See you Monday," Cece replied, her warm smile making Adam's heart skip a beat. She waved goodbye before leaving, leaving Adam alone in the kitchen with a new sense of warmth and connection he hadn't felt in a while.

-> make sure to check out my navigation or masterlist if you enjoyed! any interaction is greatly appreciated! <-

thank you for reading all the way through, as always ♡

[fakescenariosbeforesleepblog]

Out of the blue

König x reader (y/n).

Your best friend convinced you to subscribe on a dating app, you don't have expectations but you're keeping an open mind, on the other hand, König is pretty much in the same situation, Horangi and other guys insisted to him, none of you were expecting a wonderful night.

Warning: age gap, reader is in mid 20's. Grammatical and spelling errors. I think there's no mention of a specific gender but if I wrote some I apologize.

I hope you can enjoy it, as always perhaps it is not a good story but I'm sure someone out there will love this. 🩷

You're sitting, scrolling through the phone, your friends are at a party with a rugby team in a discotheque, your best friend has been insisting, calling you and texting you, even making video calls.

- Y/n please! You have to join us! You can't rot at home every Friday night!

- Working 9 to 5 is exhausting, I pass.

- What will you do tonight if you're not going to have a party or something?

Suddenly a new notification popped on your phone «Someone wants to meet you, Match or reject» then a text «Hi, would you like to go to dinner?»

- Y/N?

- Oh, I... I actually will go to dinner with a guy from that app... Remember?

- Y/N, please be careful, if you go... Send me your location and if something goes wrong call me, ok?

- Yes, mom! I love you, bye!

- Bye-bye!

As soon as you hang up the phone, you open the app and give him a «it's a match!» then responded his text «Hi, for sure, at your house or mine or any restaurant?».

Meanwhile König is sitting in the dining room of his apartment, lonely, he doesn't understand why he listened to Horangi and the rest of the guys.

- This is stupid...

He muttered to himself, he's waiting for your reply, you're the only one that he has sent solitude, nobody else. He's regretting his actions but then, you texted him back, after reading your message he wonders what would be the best option. He stood up and went to the fridge, there was only mustard, a tomato and a beer. Checking in the rest of the kitchen, there's nothing else.

It would be good to go to some restaurant but what if you feel afraid of him? He's massive, the scars on his face, his insecurities are eating him alive.

«i hope you don't mind, your profile doesn't have a photo, may I see a pic?»

-Scheisse.

Would be rude if he says no, also would ruin his chance with someone attractive as you. Oh, how much he hates this, why does he have to be so shy?.

«Ja, no problem, give me a minute :)»

«Thanks, take your time <3»

And actually he's taking a lot of time, is just a simple selfie, that's what he has been saying to himself. After 28 photos he's exhausted, tired and desperate, he doesn't know how to pose for a photo, how not to look intimidating, everything is getting worse in his mind, what if you think he's not what you're looking for? He didn't change his gym clothes, he looks like a mess, also, what if you feel afraid of him and just accept to go on this dinner because you're scared to cancel.

- AHHHH! Scheisse! Ok. Fuck off, let's send all of them.

He's afraid of your answer, he threw the phone to the table.

You're starting to worry, what if he's a fake profile? He's taking too long. Almost 40 minutes, you're considering simply not replying anymore when your phone rings.

«Kö: sent 28 new photos 📷»

Oh god, you hope those are not spicy photos or something. You opened the chat, ready to block him if those are hot pics, but no, Holy Jesus Christ, who is this man? He's tall, wearing shorts and a compression shirt, all black, his entire body looks muscular and strong, then his hair, he has a lot of hair for someone of his age, let's admit it, a lot of men start to lose hair after their 30's- 40's, but he looks good, you make a zoom to observe his face cautiously, there's some scars but if you have to be honest, those scars only makes him more attractive, his eyes are tired but blue like the sky, it only gets better and better. Definitely you can't reject him.

At this point, König is biting his nails, he's feeling very anxious, he hears his phone ringing, fuck, fuck, fuck, he's nervous, he could break easily the spine of the enemy, jump from a plane, disassemble a bomb, even fight against a bear, all that without any anxiety, but this, no, he can't.

He took the phone and went to your chat.

«Y/n: Oh god, you're very handsome» «So, where we will go to dinner? ;) »

He can't believe what he's reading, what did you say? He reads it again, no fucking way. Then he sees you're still on the chat waiting for a response.

«We can go to a good restaurant... If you're ok with that. What do you think?»

«Perfect, you can pick the restaurant, send me the location and I'll see you outside! ;D»

«Kö: sent a location 📍» «Ok, I'll see you at 9 Pm, ja?»

«See you! P.S. I'm excited! :D»

He sent the location of a small Italian restaurant close to the city center, which is expensive but he has a hunch about this night and also he doesn't mind spending much money, after all, he has been working hard for it.

You investigate the place, Italian food, your favorite food, the place looks really nice, casual, you like that. You change clothes and get ready, lucky for you, you live not so far from the center, it'll take you 18 minutes to arrive at the restaurant. You're not nervous, you're actually very excited, for the first time in months you're truly excited to have a date, maybe it will be a mess or... Maybe not, who knows? You keep that open mind and that optimism.

König arrived on time. He's checking his phone to see if you texted him while he was on the way, but no. He can't avoid thinking that maybe you will not come or something happened to you, he could be more polite and offered to pick you up at your home and arrive together. He's cursing himself when a sweet voice brings him back to reality.

- Hey

- Oh, hi... I'm König.

- König?

- Ja... (fuck, you maybe think he's giving you a fake name or something, god somebody save him!)

- It's very original, I like it, I'm y/n.

You're too kind, you're even giving him a big smile.

- Nice to meet you, y/n, I like your name too.

- Thank you! So what if we continue this conversation inside?... Let's go, I don't want to be rude but I'm so hungry!

- Sure, let's go, I'm hungry too.

As soon as you sit, there's a connection, you talk a lot, he laughs and laughs, the dinner is delicious, both share their food with each other, drinking beer and enjoying the moment, he talks to you about his job, just a little but you're fascinated by him and everything he's telling you.

(...) «No! I swear! I did a lot of sports and activities when I was a kid!» (...) «Ja! We were Falling and he didn't wake up! The plane was in flames and he was sleeping like a baby!» (...) «No, I was at home while my parents were at parties and doing all that was actually expected from someone of my age!» «Rugby and Hockey, beers and whiskey, those are my favorites!» (...) «Ja! I play that one too, I have a PC and PS and an Xbox» (...)

By the end of the dinner you and König are almost alone in the restaurant, the waitress comes to tell you they will close soon so König asks for the bill, you offer him to pay the half but he insists it's on him.

Once out, you don't want to go home, neither him but he doesn't know where else to go.

- I have an idea. Let's go, I'll take you to a cool bar that I like to visit sometimes.

- If it is a discotheque or something like that I think I prefer to walk around the city if you don't mind Schatz.

- Oh god, no, König, trust me, you will like this place.

Both are walking side to side, still talking and laughing, you don't have a clue about how much he's enjoying this moment, he's so focused on you that he has forgotten about all the people around who occasionally observe both. You're less shy or introverted than him, he likes that, you're funny, smart, pretty and full of stories.

Finally, you stop in front of a white door with a neon sign "The old dog's Bar", you take his hand and get inside.

There are not many people, it is dark, the illumination in the place is not the best, but it brings a good vibe, the people around are more old than young, the bartender is an old man, very charming.

- Hey Frank!

- Y/n! Welcome, would you like something to drink?

- Sure, whiskey for me and my friend, please, i saw tonight is a band playing, are they still here?

- sure, go, take a seat darling, they took a break but they'll be back soon.

You and König are sitting close to the small scenario, still talking, your drinks are on the table already.

- you will love this, I promise!

- How did you find this place?

- I was passing by one day, and Frank was trying to get some clients, I thought he was a very charming man so I decided to give this place a chance and I instantly fell in love.

- You're very interesting, young people like you maybe prefer to be somewhere else with more activity or something, but not you. You're beautiful, funny, you're smart... What else do I have to know about you, Schatz?

You blush and laugh.

- I'm full of surprises as much as you König! Oh, wait, I have to go to the bathroom, keep an eye on my drink please, I'll be back!

Once you're in the bathroom you text your friend to tell her you're having a wonderful night and that he's interesting and attractive. You were walking back to the table when you heard some guys talking.

«What will we do? I don't know, I'm not too good at playing it!!»

You continued walking and finally you sat, König is staring at you, he's lost in his thoughts observing you until the sound of the band in the scenario interrupts.

- Hey, we're back, we want to thank everyone who's here listening to us, thank you so much! We're close to finishing the show but our guitarist had an inconvenience and left, so, is there someone in the crowd who can help us?

You look around and the few people who are there are still sitting, apparently no one knows or maybe they're shy or not sure about standing up and helping the band. You sigh and look at König, he gives you a shy smile but for you that's enough to give you courage, you stand up from your seat.

- I can do it!

- Oh, sure come here, thank you so much for helping us!

You put your phone and some rings on the table and give a sip to your drink, you look at König once again and without thinking too much you squeeze his shoulder and whisper «I'll be back».

The guys from the band ask you some things about if you know some of the songs on their repertoire, fortunately, you know them well.

- (...) what about the solo guitar on 'Free bird'? Would you do it?

- Trust me, you won't regret it! Also I promised my friend a wonderful night, so... Let's do this.

Some songs by Fleetwood Mac, guns and roses, Red hot chili peppers, Toto, eagles, Depeche mode and finally the song you've been waiting for, Free bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, you're nervous, you don't really know if you will do it. But just a quick look at König is enough for you to give your best.

König never stopped to look at you, he has been staring at you since you stood up on the scenario with that beautiful black Fender squier classic vibe, he's paying attention to the way you play, indeed, you're nervous but he feels somehow very proud, you're giving the best of you.

He doesn't know why, but he feels like he needs to take a photo of you, maybe the light over you gives you an angelical view, or is his point of view, he doesn't know but he needs to show you how you looked after the show.

You're brilliant, you don't understand how your fingers are moving in that velocity, it has been a while since you played guitar, but you're doing it great, your quick looks to the band and the people around tell you that even they are impressed by your skills.

At the end of the show you run to König smiling and still a little bit shocked by what you did a few moments ago.

It was almost 3 am, you've been out all night, you don't even feel tired, either König, he can't stop talking about the way you played guitar, he's charming, he told you he's shy and don't enjoy to be around many people or talk too much but with you he has been really sweet, open and a truly gentleman. He offered to walk with you and take you to your house, he doesn't feel good letting you go alone.

- I would love to repeat this, König you're a gentleman, I've had much fun and the dinner was really delicious!

- Ja, me too, you're amazing, I won't stop saying it, you were brilliant. I took a picture and a video of you playing, I'll send them to you later!

- Thanks, I promise you this is the best night of my life...

- I... I would like to have a second date too.

- For real?

- Ja, I mean if you don't mind that I'm... You know, perhaps too old for you.

- Are you kidding!? König, you don't even look old! You look better than people with the same age as me, you're thousand times more interesting than them and I already said it, I would love to repeat this!

- Gut!, I'll be working a lot this month though, but we can organize another date, check our schedules and all that.

- For sure, whenever you can, I'll be ready! Well... This is where I live.

Both walked to the door of your building, and talked a little bit more, he kissed your hand and then both said goodbye. You were closing the door of your apartment when your phone buzzed, you checked all the notifications, one was from König.

«Kö: Sent a new photo 📷 , sent a new video 📷»

You were looking at them when a new message appeared on the chat.

« I can't wait to see you again, Liebling. Thanks for the most amazing night of my life, sweet dreams Mein Schatz :D»

Needless to say that you jumped and ran through your apartment like a child on Christmas. You and König had more and more dates, eventually a first kiss, a first anniversary, etc.

Who said you can't find true love on dating apps?.

[as-spring-came-in-october]

Guys, you all remember Call Me By Your Name?

The movie based on the book by the same name, written by Andre Aciman.

I saw the movie a few years back and I don't think I've moved on from it. I think that's the closest I ever got to feeling "love". So, here's a little something...

Call me by your name

somewhere in northern italy in the mid 80s i chose the best person i'd known the light of my eyes and the light of my world "who is not written for one instrument alone" you spoke, you told me i knew more than anyone else you'd met in the town words were our most powerful weapon i could listen to you speak all day long an inexhaustible source of power and magic something so beautiful and something so tragic for was "it better to speak or to die?" i still dont know but i couldn't stand that silence anymore now you've left me alone when i needed you the most... the weapons have turned into rust my words, so futile as if they're lost in the dust now i don't wanna feel something i obviously did, i wanna feel nothing so i don't feel anything but i know i had never felt more freer or safer with anyone before a part of me is now yours forevermore but there's nothing i can do to patch my heart or to make you stay to make you come back from the train that left for Rome, the train that left me stranded alone nothing had changed, nothing was the same it is just you left after you came you stepped out of the car into my life all i wanted was your gaze for a while but as you sat in the train and waved the last good bye i realised it was the last time you were mine the last night with us together the last night with you as my Elio and I as your Oliver still wondering why we wasted so many days because we happened to have everything but time so just once more, please... call me by your name and i'll call you by mine.

By @its-ener and @theloudestwomanyoulleversee

[jade-len]

bad svsss fanfic/au idea, pt. 2: random svsss anti-fan (or hater) transmigrates into svsss after tweeting "stupid author, stupid novels" and proceeds to solve 90% of the novel's conflicts out of pure spite by pretending to be a seer.

"luo binghe will not kill you, shen qingqiu. just trust me when i say that."

"please listen to me when i say this, luo binghe. focus on yourself for a bit. learn to love yourself too. yes i know you're hopelessly in love but you shouldn't just rely on his affection to hold up your emotional wellbeing, okay??"

"oh yeah no. the huan hua palace's sect leader is a pervert who preyed on su xiyan, which led to a bunch of conflict and misunderstanding and now he's kinda gotten away with it." *proceeds to explain the whole lore of it* "see you later, yue qingyuan!"

"zhuzhi-lang, i have very important advice, okay. just because you love someone and believe something is best for them, you should not force them to do it. by the way, can i see your uncle real quick?"

"yeah. uhm. it was all old palace master's fault. go fuck him up, tianlang-jun. just don't kill anyone else in the process. also uh, read better romance novels please."

"gongyi xiao, if immortal master shen qingqiu and shang qinghua ever ask you to look around for some special mushrooms, run right after you help them navigate huan hua palace. like leave the damn place. you will meet your fate if you stay here. ok cool bye."

"mu qingfang please introduce this thing called 'therapy' and 'counseling'. i promise you it will reduce qi deviations by 50%."

"mobei-jun... don't. don't beat shang qinghua up. look i know it's demon culture but maybe try to also learn some human courtesy too?"

"liu qingge. one day you will find someone who will have the same amount of devotion for you as you will for them. and you are an amazing person for it ok."

at some point they probably explain to sqq and sqh that they've transmigrated into a story that's about sqq transmigrating into PIDW, which is also a story.

there can be three routes to this:

1. there is no hurt. binghe's heartbreak points doesn't even exist. everyone is cool and there are no deaths. also tianlang-jun tortures and kill OPM, so there's that. maybe some romance or whatevs happens but it's all good.

2. while they stopped 90% of the original conflict, they proceed to accidentally create some more by simply being there. the system declares that they're the "new main character" for the audience, just like how sqq is with svsss. now, new and different plot points start happening to them instead of shen qingqiu! how will they use their knowledge now, with things they can't predict?

2. mid-way, they accidentally put a huge target on their back. unintentionally, they're going against the system's wishes and the whole point of the novel: uncover the hidden plot of PIDW. they're like a virus, a bug, something that isn't supposed to be there, but is. they don't have a system, they exist beyond that; so they can't just be sent back. they're accidentally ruining the story of svsss by not having any of the conflicts mxtx created to occur, and thus must be stopped before they completely flip everything over.

the new mission given by the system for sqq and sqh? [URGENT: stomp the bug, no matter what!]

[cookie-crumblr]

Hype Train!

F! Streamer Reader x M!Yandere Streamer OC

Part 2~

His Info: 📹✨

Part: 1 2 3

!!!MINORS DNI!!!

CW: !F reader, use of she/her when referring to reader, reader has a vagina, extortion, pet names not given by ML (kitten, good girl), little angsty possibly?, smut will start in the next part!🐶✨!

“Sup Jazzy” his own voice says to him.

“Sup Devvy, how’re you and Issac?”

“Awww, did you just call cause you missed us?” they say in an mocking tone, their voice changing to one of their own mid way through the sentence.

“Always, but that’s not why I called.” He sends a copy of some of your cat cam footage that he sped watched through. “I just need the name of the dick hole at 57:32. I’d do it myself but I don’t want to look that thing up on my work computer.”

“Ooooo! I see why you need that info. She’s mine and Issac’s type too… Sent!”

“Thanks. This still doesn’t pay me back by the way.”

“Figures, I am using your face and all.”

“Yeah ‘nd my face is hot. You’ll owe me for a long time you filthy fuckin’ sadist.”

“Takes one to know one,” they say through a smirk. “Hey Jasper,” their head tilts in curiosity, “your girl just left her building…”

“What?” He pulls up some of the other cameras in the building to look. The second floor has a bling camera that pinged it’s owner’s phone just now.

Sure enough you’re seen walking down the stairs in front of that door. You have a baking pan in hands with one birthday candle sticking out of what looks like chocolate cake.

“Why is she going out at this time? it’s like 3am for her. Has she done this before? does she always bring cake, and nothing else?”

Not even a second passes, “Looks like once a month. She goes out at two-ish, I followed her through the ground cameras to a factory. Sending all footage from the last time now. And coordinates for current active cameras near the perceived destination.”

“Shit. A factory?! What could she possibly be doing at a place like that at three in the fucking morning. That’s so dangerous. Watch her until she gets home. And I don’t know, fucking, blow somethin’ up if shit starts to go down. I have to take a flight. ‘Nd, don’t go outside for a while, unless you get a new face in the meantime.”

“Awww, but I like your face,” they pout.

“Me too! Just kidnap someone for a minute, and deal with it. jeeze. You’ll figure it out.”

“Or I could—”

“Bye Dev.in, i’ll be in contact, and if something happens to her, you’re never getting out of my contract.”

“I hate being indebted to a filthy fucking sadist like you.” they fake a sigh, not actually upset.

“Takes one to know one.” Jasper hangs up abruptly, already packing up three laptops, and their accessories to go.

Sure enough, you’ve walked all the way to a factory at 3am.

You’re running a little late tonight…

He can wait… You think.

He’s already extorting you double, almost triple your rent now.

He can wait.

“Fuck!” You hurry.

All you brought is that stupid hollow cake filled with a plastic bag of cash, and a lighter. Like always.

Eventually you get there, none the wiser that you’re being watched over by a sort of guardian angel this time.

They invisibly follow as you swerve through dark alley ways. You take slightly different routes every time.

Dev.in sits watching, waiting, finding everything nearby that they could hack if they need to cause a distraction to hopefully save you if it comes to that.

You’ve done this so many times before, usually just out of a camera’s reach.

They get into the satellites, replaying footage, as it is unfolding in real time, comparing.

On more than one time you’ve gotten attacked.

Jasper isn’t going to like that.

He already doesn’t approve of this.

You hobble dazedly to the ER when that happens, but you still go to the drop off point first.

What could be more important or scary than that, that you’d not see a doctor first?

The satellite and the real time footage all play out similarly:

You meet the same man.

He grabs you

He kisses you on the cheek.

You light the candle.

He blows it out.

He leans in to say something into your ear.

You walk either home, or to the hospital depending.

Dogs are out barking viciously nearby.

You don’t even flinch at any of this anymore.

This has been going on for more than a year it seems.

What is in that cake?

“The cake you wanted.” You shift uncomfortably, holding the pan out in offering. “And sorry I was running a little late.”

“It’s okay,” He gives you that smile that sends a freezing chill right down into your bones. “things happen,” He shrugs.

He kisses you on the cheek, and leans further to tell you how much you owe them next month and the day he wants you to come.

His menthol cigarette scent makes you nauseous the closer he gets to you.

Intrusive and rough hands grope up your arms and one rests now under your chin.

He makes you feel filthy.

You’re grimacing.

“I trust you Kitten, besides… you know i’ll get my money one way or another.” His grip tightens and your face scrunches harder. “You’d hate to go back into the pit right? Now go on home and be a good girl until we meet again…” his grip is so tight you stifle a whine.

You turn and walk away again. Keeping your pace even, and your head held high.

You almost blend into the underground world.

Almost.

A man with a blade that glints in the cameras is following you back home.

While you fiddle with the main door’s lock and your keys, your hands tremble, displaying how terrified you really are.

Dev.in starts a car parked directly behind you.

You manage to stumble inside while the guy is distracted.

You lean against the inside of the front door, a relieved, and beyond stressed sigh leaves your chest.

Then you head upstairs, fatigued just like every time prior.

You have a fitful rest, filled to the brim with nightmares that constantly wake you up, panting and clutching your chest.

The dawn finally comes. The sun is more than welcome as it shines through the slits between your blackout curtains.

You jump out of bed, not wanting to try and sleep any longer.

You have today off work, thank goodness.

As soon as your computer is on, and dipcord is open, you get a DM, “Hey! Sorry I had to suddenly leave last night! getting a little overworked rn. Wanna VC soon?”

You call him this time.

The longer it rings, the harder your heart pounds.

“Hey there, Y/N, I forgot to tell you somethin’ last night.”

“Oh really?” You try not to sound nervous, or stressed but he can hear it all in your sleepy inflections.

“I have a meet up comin’ up soon!” He didn’t until last night though. “It’s in (a city near you), is that close to you at all? My viewers have been begging me to bring you since they met you!” He isn’t wholly lying, they really do love you already.

“What?! really!” your excitement overpowers you precarious emotional state, “That’s actually super close to me! I think I can afford the trip…” You sigh, remembering work, “Wait, um what day…?”

He frowns, his heart spreading a tingling sharp pain all the way down to his left hand, “I-I can change it! i-if you can’t make the day! when are your days off next month?”

“No!” ops, that came out a little too loud, “Uh, no, sorry. I can’t have you do that. I mean, what if your viewers already changed their schedule?” You sigh.

He hasn’t even told them yet, nobody’s schedule can be impacted.

He scrubs the footage from the bling camera downstairs to see your schedule quickly, you seem to have one day off a week… What the fuck? He thinks… And so much overtime, how little are they paying you?

“Jasper…?”

“Oh sorry! i only got like three hours of sleep last night,” he chuckles”

“Oh no! that’s not good, you should try and nap after this!” you sound so genuinely stressed for him. His pain evaporates.

“It’s on Tuesday the 12th. Is that doable?”

You sigh in relief, “Yes! I actually can! that’s so cool! it falls right on one of my days off!” Your gut flips, something feels so off…

Maybe it’s just the residual feeling from last night?

“Awesome! I’ll definitely be takin’ that nap soon then,” he laughs such a perfect and easy laugh, it somehow eases your entire being beyond belief.

Tears start prickling your eyes, and he hears your tiny sniffle.

“Is somethin’ the matter Y/N?” His voice is so gentle again. he makes you imagine a summer morning in a sprawling golden field. It’s like sun on your skin for the first time in so long…

Yes. God yes. your life. That’s what’s wrong. How the fuck did you get in half the predicaments you’re currently in? “No,” You fake a yawn, “I’m just a little sleepy, I guess we’re in the same boat there!” you let out a laugh that sounds more strained than you wanted.

You can’t cry yet.

Don’t cry yet.

Please.

Do. Not. cry.

I’m gonna take a nap too! sorry I-I have to go!” Your voice cracks, “sleep well, Jasper…”

You hang up without giving him a chance to say anything more. Without the chance to catch you.

and the second that app is closed, your dam bursts.

You feel like screaming, and you feel hoarse like you already have been.

How long ago was the last time you’ve cried?

The last time you’ve even felt safe enough to cry.

“Jazzy! my man-”

“Dev, I need ya to black this entire town out for an hour.”

[toffeelights]

falling into sonic again..

no i grew up watching those epic sprite animations and sonic final fantasies, sonic paradox even. The games I played were heroes and a few more like unleashed and mega collection and i adored black knights transformation sequence i would play it in the car repeatedly ( i never owned a wii). I watched all the sonic gameplay I could. My favourite characters being sonic and shadow. I, however grew up and believed sonic was not "famous" and was niche, jealous of the only sonic merch being the boys underwear in the superstore :(,

i didnt like boom or even lost world. it wasn't "sonic" to me, so i fell out, come forces and im burned, never touching this franchise again in my mid teens. I looked at how it was doing, would watch dubs and enjoy animations but eh that was it for me.

then.. comes 2023 and the thing that drags me back into this franchise, the thing that fucking pulls me in and keeps me buried... is those same two fucking hedgehogs but this time... their fucking ship. I suppose i can blame the art that took me here in the first place but holy shit. if you told me when i was 5 years old that i would come to adore sonadow and that would be the sole reason for my staying to the sonic franchise and all i would draw would be fucking sonadow, i would think you were fucking stupid and then go on word and make sonic comics of him running and pissing on eggman. no its the fucking fact, that now its come to a point where the dynamic of sonic and shadow genuinely have shifted my entire brain chemistry, they are everything, romantic subtext or not, they have literally shaped my interest for the past half year.

the fucking SYMBOLISM sega hints around them??!! them being stars, fated, destined to meet, mirror images, understanding eachother the most yet causing the most frustration. Sonic, is the one character that can get so, so personal to shadow, challenge him in a way and intrigue him in the most bizzarest of ways he never understands yet finds equal annoyance as much as admiration, sonic is a shift to his core. Shadow also does care quite a bit, just as much as he gets irritated at his presence, i find it funny how in sonic 06, the two characters saving sonic are amy and Fucking SHADOW the hedgehog. (albeit you dont see this alot erm due to segas insistence of making characters.. boring? but anyways)

their TRUST.. in eachother, the sonic x shadow generations descriptions do it so well (esp in jp).

in sa2 when they.. worked together for the first time in space and.. he called him the ultimate life form.. and sonic and shadow.. just in that moment.. were together as one. and oh man..

I could talk about prime but uh my favourite interactions in there are mostly when one of the other was uncouncious or in a state of unawareness (youd be suprised how much this happened). like sonic holding shadow and saving him, he seems to get really, REALLY emotional when it comes to shadow than anybody else.. for some reason... and shadow' reaction when sonic almost died. OWee that was done so well. the way.. he held him.. tight.. when sonic was dying.. oh my gosh. bride style. oahy.. im not too fond on talking about prime since in terms of the "sonic and shadow" dynamic it sort of slaps you in the face but hey I appreciate some sonadow anytime, if that was their actual only canon dyamic i dont think I'd care for it as much but its more of an add on to one of the most insane PASSIONATE.. crazy mutually charged dynamics ive seen in my life... like why are they like that.. can they STOP.. those two.. my brain will explode if we actually like actually like ACTUALLY see them togteher and if its anything like "them" with their subtetly and bizzare unique tensions, i think i will lose my sanity and just not function anymore. good fucking bye if i see a mention towards emerl or the ending of sa2 i will lose my absolute shit and you random person seeing this will see me go through it. my sketchbook would probably be overwhelmed by the amount of incoherent sonadow mess dear lord why..

ignore this i have an exam tomorrow and ended up going on a crazy rant about tbese two hedgehogs that have carried me through senior year, shout out to sonadow.. gotta be the only thing dragging me towards a degree.

[yanderelovlies]

𝓗𝓾𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓾𝓹 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓲𝓷 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓶𝓮, 𝓼𝓽𝓾𝓹𝓲𝓭.

You and Dante had been friends since you both had been seventeen. At first, the two of you were allies fighting against the Demon hoard. However, the more you ran into each on the mission, the more friendlier the two of you became. By the end of the mission, you were buying him pizza while comforting him.

After that, the two of you were nearly inseparable. Always going in missions together and always there to help picking up the pieces. You had become something special to the Demon hunter, but it was not the type of special you were hoping for.

You weren't sure when, but at some point, you had grown to love Dante beyond a friendship. However the he never seemed to feel the same since on the rare occasion he brought someone to the shop you were dubbed "Best friend" or "Like a sibling to me".

No matter how much it hurt to hear them, though, you couldn't leave him. Not when the nights get so bad you are the first person he calls just so you could hold him and reassure him everything is okay. Or when he all but begs you to stay just so he won't have to be alone. You knew the whole situation wasn't healthy for both of you, but it was so hard to leave when you loved him so much.

.

"Dante, I can't do this anymore."

Dante had stopped mid-conversation, staring at you for a bit. "Hey....I'm gonna call you back, doll..okay bye." He put the phone back on the receiver, waiting for you to elaborate on what you said. When you didn't, he cleared his throat. "Can't do what anymore n/n? Demon hunt?"

You shook your head. "I can't sit here anymore listening to flirt with someone else." You had tried to keep your cool. It was now or never, you figured. If he didn't accept your feelings, then at least you guys could stay friends. It wouldn't be the same as before, but at least you could still stay by his side.

Dante raised an eyebrow at this "Well this is new, and here I thought you were taking notes." Dante sat back, putting his feet up on his desk. "Maybe it would help you find someone."

You could feel yourself grow nervous. "Yeah, well....it hasn't worked on you.." You mumbled, keeping your eyes to your lap.

Dante froze, clearly catching what you had said. "What?"

You paused, gathering all the courage you could before opening your mouth again. "I-I said they didn't work on you...So maybe they aren't as effective as you think."

Dante blinked at you owlishly before he smirked at your raising an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Then...use your own on me."

"What?"

"Use your own pickup lines on me."

If your face wasn't red before it was now. You cleared your throat before looking away from him. "Fine."

Dante sat up, putting his feet back on the ground. "You have to say them to my face, though." You tensed up as he continued, "I mean, when people flirt, they are usually facing each other, right?"

He had a point, and you knew it. Taking a deep breath, you steel your nerves and turn back to him. "You know I'm photographer, but I can picture me and you together."

He stared at you again for a minute before letting out a chuckle. "I'm not sure if that's the most smoothest or cutest thing you've said."

You looked away face bright red again. "Shut it, corny."

He chuckled again but continued to stare at you even when your eyes met his "How long?" He asked his voice more seriously than before.

You knew playing dumb wasn't going to get you anywhere. This is what you wanted after all. "I-Im not sure....three or more years?"

Dante's eyes widened. "What?? How come you didn't say anything?!"

"I was scared you wouldn't like me back! You always brought over girls and called me your friend or sibling!'

Dante stood up. "That was to cover my own feelings!"

It was your turn to be shocked what you had just heard. "What..?"

Dantes face was red as he quickly made his way to your side, showing a sort of desperation you've never seen before. He held your hands as he made eye contact with you. "Y/n...I'm not good with my feelings or even know how to show them. So instead ignored them and tried to be with people who vaguely reminded me of you." He sighed, thinking back on his mistakes. "It was stupid, and I'm sorry....but I do like you....might even say love you."

You stared at him in disbelief. "Do you mean it?"

"More than you know, Angel"

Over come by emotions, you pulled him close and finally kissed him. You could feel Dante's arms wrap around you as he pulled you close, pouring all his emotions into the one kiss. When the two of you finally pulled away, a smile immediately graced both of your features.

"You don't know how long I've wanted to do that." Before you could respond, Dante pulled you in for another kiss. God, you guys should have done this a long time ago.

[elejah-wonderland]

_elejah au

Love is in the Air

_a tvd fanfic_Part 2

a/n: I am already in Valentine's Day mood...hence this story...lol

Hope you'll enjoy it.

It's a light-hearted love story.

xoxo

*

Like clockwork, Elena was up at six and showered quickly, underwent her morning beauty regime, and packed most of her casual clothing. She then looked at the book and picking it up from the night stand. "All right, Elijah Mikaelson  or Smith, whatever you like to call yourself nowadays. Hope you can write as good as you can dance." 

She then whipped the book in the suitcase. Though they had met just this once so many years ago in Mystic Falls, this man left a mark, though she had only met him for the day.

She now took her phone and called Jo.

"Yes, I am at cafe acriss road. I thought you'd sleep a bit linger" Jo said as she picked up the call.

"I just want to get out of here. Ok. I will see you in five." Elena said before she hung up.

She now picked up her bag, slipping her phone in and looked around to check once more if she had everything.

"Ok. I think that's it." the brunette muttered to herself and then rolling her suitcase behind her, she got out.

*

In New York, Elijah finished getting dressed and walked out of his apartment rolling his suitcase behind him. In the taxi cab to J. F. K Airport, he fumbled with his phone, opening Elena's instagram. He looked at her picture she had posted about the last day of her movie shoot. He looked at her photo, transfixed, his mind travelling back to the night after his sister's college designer debu night.

Flashback

"Dance?" - Elijah said as he came up to Elena, who had just waved bye to her friend Caroline, scampering away with her boyfriend.

"What?" Elena looked surprised at this question without innuendos.

"Would you like to dance? Unless you don't dance - well, can I buy you a drink? I feel that this morning I intruded on you -"

"Yes, I'd like to dance" Elena now cut in mid-sentence.

The band played the Kings of Leon's 'Closer' as Elijah's hand slid around the brunettes back, taking her hand in his, smoothly sway and turn to the rhythm of the song. He found himself lost in a gaze  as their eyes met. Elijah smiled at Elena, who smiled shyly at him. Rhythm of their bodies danced slowly with the music. He twirled her around, dipping her as he had lean forward closer to her at one moment. Staring at the beauty before him, his breathing became shallow and his heart had suddenly felt vivacious inside his chest.

Stranded in this spooky town

Stoplight is swaying and the phone lines are down

Floor is crackling cold

She took my heart, I think she took my soul

With the moon I run

Far from the carnage of the fiery sun

...

Over the years, every time he had heard this song, he remembered that one moment. Like the song said it felt like this woman took his heart and his soul, as that same heart of his was like a ghost ever since that evening. 

Elijah swiped the phone closed. He took a note book out, and wrote a few notes for his new book. 

Flashback

Two years back

"Who is Angel really?" Camille, Elijah's editor asked as she sat down on her desk chair. 

"No one particular. I've just invented a character." Elijah fibbed. He knew all too well, who the heroine was.

"The book is amazing and it is going to print immediately. This will be a smash. It has everything, suspense, mystery, erotica. I am amazed that you have not thought of historical genre before." the blonde said.

"I thought that everyone is into murder mysteries." Elijah said.

"Well, your series of CSI detective Ross, was gripping, but this one will make it into a block-buster."

"All right. If you say so."- Elijah said and continued-"Is there anything else you need."

"I will talk to Gia about the whole promotion thing - well, you know it all"

"Yeah." Elijah nodded and got up.

"Erm- I just wanted to say sorry about your divorce."

"Thank you- but - it's not a big deal - Hayley and I had already separated - just didn't post it on any of tge social media." Elijah said.

"I know - but I thought that maybe you will get back together." Camille said.

"No. We've actually never really been compatible - it just took me a long time to realize that." Elijah said and turned the subject around to ask about if he would have a meeting with Gia.

"I'll call you when I speak to her." Camille said.

*

In Florence, Italy

"A fiat 500" Elena said as Jo now handed her the key cars over.

"You're apartment is in the old part of Rome, and the roads are quite narrow, and trust me you will be grateful to have such a small car."

"Oh - I love it. It's perfect. I want the ultimate Italian experience. Thank you." Elena said smiling."I hope it's red"

"It's a red one - yes. I don't know why the rented car always has to be red"

"It's to do with ladybugs - and good luck," Elena explained, and now sipped down the rest of her cappuccino,"ok- I am so ready. Can I ask you one last favour?"

"What?"

"A week without any phone calls and - about this new movie - I'd like to put money in it " Elena said.

"You want to co-produce it?" Jo said a tad bit surprised.

"I read the reviews and - the prologue - I have a feeling this will be huge."

"You got it. Right. Have a great time- and I hope you really enjoy yourself. And don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Elena raised and eyebrow at her friend as to say Please- do I ever do anything that is crazy?! And Jo nodded a little with a chuckle.  The two women now hugged and Elena went away.

Though she had travelled extensive through Europe, visiting France and Paris numerous times, as well as Spain, and Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Greece, also North Italy, somehow she had never had the time or moment to go to the eternal city. And since her college days in Mystic Falls, she was forever pumped up to go to the heart of the most romantic places on the planet. There was one more thing that had a particular reason she wanted to see it. Being a huge fan of vintage movies, she admired the most divine actresses the big screen had ever seen. It was Audrey Hepburn. She had even played Holly Golightly on London's West End.

Three hours later, after a steady drive down from Florence, she arrived. Already, as she drove in, the whole feel of the busy city, it's ancient vibe, made her feel like she entered a world where old met new. Unlike any other places, this one gave her a jolt of adrenaline in the tired and somewhat weary soul of hers. 

Flashback

A year ago

Paris, France

"Here is to me - lucky in everything but love." Elena said and sipped down the champagne.

"Oh, come on, 'Lena" Caroline said, "Kaleb is the one - you should just so go for it. I mean he is the sweetest."

"Yes, he is sweet and lovely - but -huh- I don't feel - you know the fire - like I did with Elijah Oh, God - and we have just danced- we didn't even kiss"

"You are forever thinking of p 'EM dance thing' - God, Lena that was a thousand years ago -will you forever compare all the guys to something that never happened." Caroline shook her head.

"I need more Champagne" Elena said and waved to the waiter to bring her another glass.

"You have this dream-like thing in your head about this - and you have to stop it."

"Says you, who talks nothing about how love is fire and walking on clouds." Elena reminded her friend about her own views about love, romance and couples.

"Touché," Caroline now said,"but, seriously, Lena - you had this one dance- he left and he most probably never thought twice about it. Have you forgotten that Rebekah told me that he got married a year later."

"Yes. I didn't say that I pine after him or think what if - I am just saying that - Oh, God - I am actually thinking what if, aren't I?" Elena sighed, her eyes shining as if she finally had an epiphany.

"Yep. What if - Rebekah didn't pull him away, and what if - the next day you were not offered the role that kick started your whole career- and you jetted off to L.A. - what if - what if - but you can't live with what ifs." Caroline said.

"I know. Ok. Today is the day that I will officially forget the 'EM dance thing'" Elena said, but her heart fibbed. 

Now, she walked into the apartment on the last floor. It was a cute, quaint little apartment. It was exactly what she wanted. She put her case down and went out on the little terrace, her gaze smiling at the sun dancing on the rooftops of the bustling city. Refreshing herself a bit, a minute later, she was out, and lost herself in the cobble-stoned labyrinth.

*

Meanwhile in Stefan Salvatore's Apartment

Elijah's phone rang and he picked it up from the nightstand, "Hello"

"Hey," Stefan said,"sorry - you're still asleep?"

"Hey- ah, I am- well - so jet-legged- and I worked when I got here - already got two chapters down," Elijah replied rubbing his eyes,"what time is it?"

"8 p.m." Stefan said, adding,"go back to sleep. We can talk tomorrow."

"No. Need to get up. Anyway - all is good. How are you?"

"We are fine. Damon says hi. If you have time pop to Amsterdam one weekend, you are more than welcome" Stefan said.

"Yeah- I'll do that. Thank you so much for this. It's not that I could not afford an apartment, but -"

"I know, you wanted a home-like feel, and I told you that it's not a problem. We are best friends - and stop thanking me. Ok. I got to go. Talk in a couple of days - a friend of mine, Stella has managed to get you to the Roman Historical Institution, to the archives that are closed to the public. She will give you a call."

"OMG- thank you." Elijah moved to the terrace.

"Hey- seriously, you don't need to thank me" Stefan said.

"Right. Say hi to everyone and we'll talk later. I need a pizza and a good glass of red."

"Down the street in Campo di Fiore, there is a great old-new bar, I can recommend. I don't know if you remember it - it had that Audrey Hepburn poster on the wall" Stefan reminded his friend.

"Yes, I do. Why do you say new bar?"

"The old guy died and his son redesigned it a bit, but it is still the same place, food is still good and the wine is even better." Stefan explained.

"I will definitely check it out."

And with that their conversation ended, both hanging up.

Elijah showered and changed. As he said, he was ready for something to eat, and he made his way down to the bar, he and Stefan hung out so often when he came to visit right after his separation, two years back.

The streets of the old part were bustling and though it had rained a tad bit, everything still looked so sparkly and inviting, with dancing cobbles under the feet, made Elijah feel like he was at home already, like there was an everlasting theatre on display as he walked through the labyrinth of the ancient streets. 

And in his head he was writing out scenes for his book.

Plunging into the bar the next moment, with his imagination in full flow of the next chapter, his eyes, and his heart stopped still as they descended on Elena sitting by the large window. 

_to be continued

[iamvegorott]

Birthday Planning

Here's a (waaaay too late) birthday gift for @phonenix with some birthday planning for Chase's son that has a bump in the road with Stacey

Birthday Planning

“Is there anything specific, or is it just space in general?” Marvin asked, a tilt to his head as he looked at the vast range of information on the kitchen table. There was a lot of paper with scribbled-down notes and crayon-colored sketches of layout ideas. 

“I think it’s just space,” Anti answered. “Lucas has always liked the stars, planets, and everything in between that’s up in the sky.” 

“I think they have glowing ceiling stickers we can get him,” Marvin said. 

“We could get a pack for the party and an extra pack for him to take to his room.” Anti got excited at the idea.

“I swear you’re more thrilled about this birthday party than Chase is.” Marvin giggled his tease. 

“Shut up.” Anti scrunched his nose and looked ready to hiss at Marvin like an annoyed cat. 

“But Stace, I told him that-” Chase came into the room, slipping on his jacket while talking on his cell phone at the same time, unaware that Anti and Marvin were in the room with him. “Not to sound like a dick, but you know he hates that place.” He paused mid-pulling his arm through his sleeve and made a face. “I’m not saying that you’re…It’s not an assumption, he literally…Stace, please, he just wants…Stace.” Chase put his hand to his face and rubbed it, jacket finally on but he looked like he wanted to take it off and stay home. “Just say you don’t want me to see him, damn it!” He finally snapped after a long pause of just listening. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” 

“Should we…” Marvin pointed with his thumb, his tone showing he was uncomfortable. He normally was one for gossip and loved being told about everything but even this felt too much for him. Marvin didn’t wait for Anti to respond and walked off. 

“You’re right, I shouldn’t have yelled.” Chase sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I just want this to be perfect for Lucas. I know you’re pissed with me, you have every right to, I’ve fucked up more times than I can count when we were married and I know it’ll take a long time to make up for it. Please don’t upset Lucas because you don’t like me.” Anti clenched his teeth and crossed his arms, foot tapping as he watched with a glare for the person on the other end of the line. “I’ll be over soon, we can talk about this more in person…yeah…bye.” Chase hung up with a sign and flinched when he looked up and saw Anti right in front of him. “Shit man, you scared me. How long have you been there?” 

“Stacy doesn’t want the party?” Anti answered by asking his own question. 

“She still wants a party, but doesn’t think Lucas would be safe having it here.” Chase scratched his cheek. 

“Not safe? He’s been over here before, everyone loves him and he’s probably safer here than most other places in the fucking world.” Anti’s pointed ears twitched with irritation. 

“I know, that’s what I’m going to tell her. Once I talk to her, I’m sure it’ll all work out.” Chase gave a confident smile.

“Yeah, sure.” Anti scoffed and rolled his eyes.

x~x~x

“I don’t want to go to that stupid place!” Lucas screamed before storming out of the room. 

“Look at what you did!” Stacey snapped at Chase. 

“What I did? He’s telling you what he’s been telling you.” Chase said.  

“Fucking.” Anti grunted to himself and went after Lucas, heading straight for his room and finding him on his bed, curled up in an angry pout. 

“I’m thirteen now, I’m old enough to know what I like and what I want,” Lucas grumbled as Anti sat on the edge of the bed, letting his disguise fade so he looked more like his usual self, something Lucas had requested long ago for him to do when his mother wasn’t around. Stacey didn’t like Anti’s points ears, neck scar, black eyes, and everything else that wasn’t human-like, and sometimes Anti liked to keep the peace or just didn’t feel like listening to her complain about him ‘scaring the children’ and would have them covered around her. Lucas thought he looked cool and hated when he hid himself.

“What do you want?” Anti asked, feeling a little better as Lucas was willing to uncurl a little. 

“I want my space party at Dad’s place. I want to see him and you and all the others. Dad’s side is cool and Mom’s side makes me wear a tie that feels like I’m being choked.” Lucas started rubbing at his legs. 

“I know someone that always wears ties, don’t know how he does it.” Anti clicked his tongue. 

“Thats…Dark, right?” Lucas asked. There were so many names to remember and he was trying his best to get all of them. 

“Yep.” Anti popped the p and chuckled. “We’re working on getting that stick out of his ass and making him more fun.” He smiled when that got Lucas to laugh lightly. 

“Is he going to be at the party?” Lucas asked.

“Fuck yeah, he is. Everyone you asked for will be there, and most of them are decorating the house as we speak.” Anti watched as Lucas perked up. 

“Can we go now? I don’t want to hear Mom and Dad fight anymore.” Lucas asked. 

“Anything for the birthday boy.” Anti grinned and snapped his fingers, casually sending himself, Lucas, and Chase back to the House. 

“He can visit them la-” Chase stopped when he found himself looking at Marvin instead of his ex-wife. “Anti, you did not.” He said as he turned and saw Anti with his son on the other side of the room. 

“Lucas said he wanted to go, and you can’t say no to the birthday boy.” Anti shrugged with the biggest grin on his face.

“Stace is going to lose her sh-her mind.” Chase changed his wording when he remembered Lucas was still with them. 

“What’s she going to do about it? Call the cops and be like, ‘a supernatural glitch stole my son’?” Anti laughed at that thought. 

“I’m already so grounded. Might as well have fun, right?” Lucas's grin matched Anti’s and Chase couldn’t help but feel a little concerned about that. 

But he did have a point. 

“Alright, we’ll deal with your mom later.” Chase gave in.

“You’re the best!” Lucas cheered and hugged his dad. 

“I got the piñata!” Jackie called as he came into the house. 

“That thing is huge!” Lucas said in awe at the star-shaped piñata that, when sat on the ground, went all the way up to the bottom of Jackie’s chest. Chase watched as Lucas rushed over to look at the piñata with Jackie, trying to lift it and laughing when he found that it was too heavy because of all the treats inside. 

“I know I shouldn’t have just glitched us away, but he-”

“Thanks.” Chase stopped Anti’s explanation and smiled at him. “Sometimes it’s nice to have someone more chaotic to help make sure Lucas is happy. You’re a good uncle.” 

“I try.” Anti softly laughed, blushing slightly at the compliment. 

“Since when are you all bashful?” Chase teased with a nudge from his elbow. 

“I can hang it up now, and we can start with hitting this thing open,” Jackie suggested.

“Fuck yeah!” Lucas’ excited curse got Chase’s eyes to widen.

“I’m a good uncle,” Anti said before quickly slipping away. 

“Antisepticeye!” 

[sassy-ahsoka-tano]

Through Sickness and Health

Character/Fandom: Elvis - Elvis (2022)

Requested: yes - nonnie!

Prompt: Although Elvis resists your pleas to get rehab at first, a call in the middle of the night sets your mind at ease. Basically, the airport scene from the movie, except you're Priscilla and the fic we all deserve.

TW: Mentions of drugs, rehab, general depression, and just angst

Rating: Pg   ||     Word Count: 3446

A/N: i'm so glad I finally got around to this one! this is a fix-it fic which means its kinda hurt/comfort + this is so much longer than i was anticipating but who's complaining more soft elvis. Also Mx. is a gender neutral term for Mr/Mrs it's not a typo lolol

🦋 mila

─────•~❉᯽❉~•─────

You grip tightly onto the strap of the leather handbag in your fingers. Your head drops down and your eyes trace the yellow stitches across the top of the handle. The chilled rain droplets splat and spit all around you, splashing and melting onto your skin. It’s the perfect weather for the day, what the day is and what it brings. You had woken up this morning, looked outside and known that it would be a perfect reflection of how you feel. Your eyes flick up and land on your gorgeous little girl as she runs toward you. You drop to your knees with a big smile, although it’s one that doesn’t reach your eyes. Your arms open wide for her to run into your grasp. You clutch around the little girl with all your strength.

“Hi baby! How was it? Did you have fun with daddy?” you ask, tucking some unwieldy curly blonde hair behind your daughter’s ear. A reminder that your husband, ex-husband, is blonde. “Say bye to daddy.”

You turn her around and point toward the black car with the tinted windows where you can just barely see your ex-husband peering through. Your father-in-law, Vernon, approaches and you stand to give him a quick hug, gently patting his back.

“How are you?” you ask quietly, but he just nods with a solemn expression.

You shoot him a tight-lipped smile. For everything Vernon has put your husband, ex-husband, through, you still feel empathy toward Vernon for what he’s suffered alongside the rest of you. You turn your attention toward the ominous vehicle and gulp hard before taking a deep breath in time with your first step. When you reach the car, a security officer opens it and you carefully climb into the seat next to Elvis. As you sit down, you immediately feel your heart sink. You hate this. How transactional it all is. How business-like your relationship has become. As the door slams, you nervously glance up toward your husband, whose head is tilted down, almost as if he’s asleep.

“Hey,” he says quietly.

“Hi,” you respond, not knowing what else to say.

You’ve been doing this, this exchange, for a while now; almost two years, at this point, but it never gets any easier. And today is more important than any other day because, today, you finally have a plan. Actionable steps that your husband, ex-husband, can take to get better. Moments of silence pass until you speak.

“How are you doing?” you ask, praying for an honest answer.

If nothing else, you know that your relationship still provides room for honesty. You are one of the only people in the world he can be truly honest with. You know you’re gonna get a truthful answer when he just heaves a deep sigh without responding. Your hand flies up out of instinct to touch his face, but it falters in mid air and then falls to rest on his hand instead. He gently curls his fingers around yours, squeezing hard. You bite your lip for a moment, debating whether to continue. As your eyes trace down the sunken posture of his body, his neck, and even his eyes behind a pair of hideous sunglasses, you know it’s now or never. This is your last chance.

“Elvis, honey, listen there’s a place in San Diego…a rehab place. It’s somewhere you can go to rest, to get better, to get help,” you say, although your voice begins to shake from the combination of nerves and grief. “After the show, you can fly directly there and be in a clinic before anyone even knows. I’ve arranged it all.”

“I’m gonna be 40 soon, Y/N…40,” he says incredulously, gently shaking his head. “And nobody’s gonna remember me. I never done anythin lasting. I never made a classic film I can be proud of.”

“What about King Creole? You got great reviews for that. Or A Star is Born?”

“Ehhh,” he responds in a raspy voice and then chuckles. “Barbra a-and the Colonel?”

You can’t help but chuckle along with him this time. But your small fit of laugher quickly triggers the tears that are already threatening to spill out of your eyes. You feel your face screw up in grief and you sniff.

“Please go,” you plead, your voice cracking. “If you dream it, you’ll do it, baby. So dream it for me, please.”

You add the last parts in hopes that it’ll remind him of how things used to be. How happy you both used to be together. How full of life he was.

“I’m all outta dreams,” he responds in a voice drier than sandpaper.

Your free hand flies directly up to your face, pressing into the skin between your eyebrows as you glance out the window. You can’t look at him or you’ll break. You falter for a moment, sucking in a shaky breath and trying to come up with something to say that will convince him.

“Promise me,” you barely choke out. “Lisa needs her daddy back. I need my husband back. I-”

Harsh knocking on the window of the car distracts you, and you turn your head away again as your chest tightens. You sniff hard and wipe some tears before finally gathering the courage to look at him and squeeze his hand. The security person opens the door and you move to get out of the car.

“I’ve never stopped, you know,” you say, glancing back at him. “I’ve never stopped loving you. You are my greatest love and that’s the way it’ll always be.”

He glances up at you lazily, but you can see streams of tears staining his cheeks. You know he wants to say that he loves you. But he doesn’t feel worthy of receiving or giving love. Especially not to you, not after everything he’s put you through.

“Promise me, Elvis Presley,” you say one last time and then pull away.

His grasp on your fingers refuses to release you, but you drag your fingers away anyway. You can’t be around him for another moment. It’ll break you and you’ll never be able to leave. After exiting the car, you turn to watch your husband, ex-husband, board his plane and jet off to wherever the hell it is he’s going now. Seeing him illuminated by the rainy light makes your nostrils flare with the effort of trying not to cry.

I will always love you, he mouths, and your fingers reach up to bunch your coat together. You say nothing but silently beg and plead with him to take up the offer you’d made. You rip your gaze away, shuffling to the car and climbing in next to your daughter. The door slams and you grab her hand, pressing a small kiss to it as the driver begins to roll away. You glance out the window one last time to see Elvis staring back at you. He presses his fingers to his lips and then reaches them out toward you with a wave, blowing you a kiss. You can’t bring yourself to force a smile, just to worry and hope to dear god that he takes the rehab option.

The end.

─────•~❉᯽❉~•─────

Just kidding this is a fix-it fic bitch (affectionate) enjoy 💖

You jolt awake and roll over, slamming your fingers onto the hard black plastic of the phone. You pull it away from the receiver and press it to your ear.

“Hello?” you murmur gruffly, sitting up and fumbling to turn the light on. “Who is this?”

“Mx. Y/N Presley?” you hear a woman’s voice on the other line, not familiar but with the state you’re in, it could be your own mother’s voice for all you know.

“Yes, who is this?”

“Mx. Presley, this is Dr. Winters with Goldn Hill House in San Diego. Your husband, Elvis Presley, has checked himself into our rehab center.”

It barely occurs to you to correct the doctor. Your ex-husband…

“He wanted us to notify you and was also wondering if you could bring some of his belongings up to the center so he can get more comfortable here, since he’ll be residing here for about three or so months at least. He gave me a fairly organized list which I would be happy to go over with y-”

“What?” you ask, shaking your head as your fingers finally close around the string to the lamp. You glance up at the clock reading three something in the morning. “I’m sorry. It’s very early in the morning, so I’m afraid I’m a little groggy.”

“It’s not a problem, Mx. Presley. We understand that this can be a lot to digest for family members. Mr. Presley arrived with a Mr. Jerry Schilling around 1:30 this mornin and admitted himself to the center for drug addiction treatment,” the woman continues. “We’ve already discussed any financial requirements and have him set up in a room. He’ll have a few days to settle into his new space and the rehabilitation process will begin on Monday. In the mean time, we’d love to have you come down for a visit. Showing that you care and support his decision would be extremely helpful in this process. Would you have an availability to come up for a visit this weekend?”

“Uh…” you rub your fingers over your eyes, trying to make sense of the information. “Yes, of course. I can be on the next plane out tomorrow.”

Your brain finally starts to catch up, and you feel a strange sense of disbelief mixed with joy. You softly begin to smile, pressing your hand to your chest.

“He really checked in? The actual Elvis Presley, not some impersonator or crazed fan who’s changed their name?”

“Yes, ma’am,” she replies. “We had to confirm his social security information to admit him, and I can assure you that it’s the real Elvis Aaron Presley. He’s been requesting you since he came in.”

You feel a hot tear slip from your eye and release a shaky breath in relief.

“Well, that’s very good to hear. Give me just a moment to get some paper and a pen, and I’ll get that list of his belongings from you.”

You hop out of bed with more energy than you can remember feeling in a long time. As soon as you hang up with the rehab center, you phone Jerry to have the Lisa Marie sent up to Memphis for you. Then, you phone up a neighbor friend to ask them to watch Lisa while you’re gone. You spend the rest of the early morning hours gathering up the objects Elvis has requested and packing a small overnight bag for yourself.

By the time the sun is rising several hours later, you’re gently waking Lisa for a quick kiss and to explain that you’re going to help daddy with something. You hop into the car, thanking your neighbor on the way out, and speed to the airport tarmac where you meet Jerry outside of the plane. He pulls you in for a hug, and you breathe in his familiar scent. You close your eyes, feeling hopeful for the first time in a while.

“Hi, Jerry,” you say. “I can’t express how grateful I am right now. You’ve always been there for him.”

“Not in the way you have, but thank you,” he responds. “You were the one who convinced him to even consider it in the first place.”

You climb onto the airplane together and take your seats as the plane jets off toward San Diego for your roughly four hour flight.

“How did it happen, Jerry? Please tell me.”

“He’d been real quiet all day after leaving the airport. He didn’t say much before the show, but I didn’t think anything of it. I just figured he was probably tired, but then right after the show, he pulled me aside. He said, ‘Y/N told me about this place I could go to rest and I think it’s about time for a good long nap.’ And he just asked me to drive him there right then. He didn’t even want to change, probably didn’t wanna run into the Colonel. So, of course, I did what he asked. I wasn’t about to argue with that. He fell asleep on the ride over there, he was so exhausted. And by the time we got to the center, he was still pretty out of it, but clearminded enough to be very insistent about being admitted. I’m not sure what you said to him on the tarmac, but whatever it was, it worked.”

You smile to yourself, breathing yet another sigh of relief. You both settle in for the flight. Considering that you didn’t get to sleep from three to nine in the morning, it doesn’t surprise you that you fall asleep, letting your eyes drift closed. Until you hear Jerry’s low voice waking you.

“We’re at the airport,” he says as he gently shakes your shoulder.

It takes you less than a few seconds to awaken completely. You’re so excited and anxious to see Elvis. Once the plane doors open, you and Jerry exit. You clutch hard onto the duffel bag of items Elvis requested as you get into a car to drive to the rehab center. The drive is surprisingly short and the place looks lovely. Well manicured lawns, fountains, and plenty of open space; just what Elvis needs. The car rolls to a stop in front of the building, and you walk into the facility with Jerry behind you. The receptionist’s face lights up when she sees you.

“Mx. Presley!!” she says happily. “Welcome, welcome! We’re so glad you could make it. Mr. Presley hasn’t stopped talking about you since he checked in. Let me get you some information about the process and the facility, and then I’ll take you back to him.”

The receptionist hands you brochure after brochure and then points toward some legal and financial information for the treatments Elvis might need. You try to take it all one step at a time and make mental notes of everything you’re hearing, but your excitement makes it quite hard to do. When she’s finally done with her spiel, she steps out from behind the counter and gestures for you to follow her. You throw a quick smile at Jerry before following the receptionist back into a special wing for celebrities.

“He’s right in there,” she says, gesturing to a room. “He’s completely exhausted, so he might be asleep. I would recommend just making sure that you’re careful so you don’t alarm him.”

With that, she leaves you alone in the quiet hallway. You take a deep breath, or three, and clutch onto the bag before gently knocking on the door. When you get no response, you gently push it open.

“Elvis, honey?” you ask quietly as you step into the room. He looks up from his place in the bed. His hair is mussed and eyes sleepy as he lies propped up against a pillow in his pajamas. Your eyes immediately fall to the book in his hands, and you smile. He’s always loved to read.

“Y/N,” he says and a smile spreads across his sunken features. “I’m so glad ya made it.”

“Of course,” you say with a small chuckle. “I’m glad you made it, too. I brought the stuff you asked for.”

You come closer to hand over the bag so he can go through it. He takes it from you as you sit down in the chair by the side of the bed. He unzips the bag and begins to sort through it, a soft smile resting on his face. He looks like he’s already been sleeping for days, and you feel emotion rising in your throat to choke you. You gulp it away.

“So, how is it here so far?”

He nods.

“Not so bad. They treat me pretty good. If I want anything, all I gotta do is ring this lil button ‘ere and those nurses come a’runnin.”

“Well, I’m sure they do. You’re no less handsome today than you were twenty years ago.”

“Thank you,” he glances up at you, and you can see the tears glistening in his blue eyes. “Ya know the doctor told me that if I’d kept goin like I was, I woulda died in less ‘en a year. Less than one year, Y/N. You saved my life. I don’t know how to thank ya…I don’t know what else I can say...”

He rubs your skin with his fingers, gulping and clenching his jaw. But whatever he does, it’s not enough to stop the tears that start to slowly stream down his cheeks. You reach out to brush them away.

“You don’t need to say anything else. I’m just so happy that you decided to come here. You’ve repayed me by making that decision. That’s all I ever wanted was for you to be happy, Elvis. These people are gonna help you, and…maybe things can go back to the way they were before. One step at a time, but, I’m feeling very optimistic.”

“I just wanna be there for Lisa,” he replies. “I don’t wanna be layin dead on the ground. I wanna be there to see her grow up, ride a horse for the first time, learn how to drive, how to strum the guitar.”

“To protect her from boys” you chime in, and he laughs with a nod.

“I never stopped lovin ya neither, Y/N. I never will, baby. You’re the one for me, you always have been,” he reaches out to cup your cheek, and you lean into that touch that you hadn’t felt in so, so long. “Imma get better. For you and Lisa both.”

─────•~❉᯽❉~•─────

~ three months later ~

You anxiously pull at the fabric of Lisa’s blue jean overalls as she sways back and forth next to you, clutching her Barbie doll by the hair. You glance down at her and smile before the glint of the sun’s reflection catches your attention. Your eyes follow the big black Cadillac as it drives slowly up the driveway and rolls to a stop where you and Lisa standing in front of Graceland.

You lean down and whisper to Lisa, “There’s daddy!”

The door opens and out steps the love of your life, the way you want to remember him. Maybe a bit older and ceratinly beefier, but he’s the man you’ve always known again. He looks amazing. So healthy and genuinely happy. He’s lost a ton of weight and looks more physically fit than he’s been for years. His sideburns are gone and hair is cut shorter, back like it used to be in the 50s and 60s. He looks not a shred tired, but tan and sun-kissed. And he’s wearing a flattering white sweater and jeans.

You feel the urge to move right to him, to touch him, kiss him, whatever you can. But you’re too worried to move. You don’t know the protocol for this sort of thing and you don’t want to make him uncomfortable. Instead, you just grip Lisa by the shoulders and smile encouragingly at Elvis. Once he makes eye contact with you, he shares your smile, his cheeks curling up into sweet dimples. He takes a step forwrard to kneel in front of Lisa.

“Hi my baby,” he says, holding his arms out for her to run into. She hugs him tightly with her doll, and he presses a kiss to the top of her head. He releases her and she runs toward Vernon, who has gotten out of the car as well. Elvis stands tall in front of you.

“Hi darlin,” he winks, and you smile, taking that as an invitation to throw your arms over his shoulders and pull him into you. His hand winds around the back of your head, holding you to him. He smells good, just like his old self.

“How do I look?” he asks with a toothy grin.

“Like my husband,” you say, pulling back and placing your hands on either side of his face. “I’m so proud of you, honey. You’ve done so well.”

His fingers travel to your wrists, stroking your skin with his thumb.

“I could never have done it without ya help. D’ya think maybe, we could try again? And I’ll do better this time. I swear it.”

He gestures between you, and you nod as he wipes a tear from under your eye with the side of his finger. You raise yourself up onto your tiptoes and kiss him like you had the very first time.

─────•~❉᯽❉~•─────

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